Does being “eclectic” mean that you can use whatever feels right there and then?
What should be the underlying aim of the exercises used in a class where eclectic approach is implemented?
While criticising the prescriptive nature of language teaching approaches, Brown (2001) suggests “principled teaching”, making informed choices suitable to the context for the students in that environment where effective and meaningful teaching which considers language teaching methodology takes place.
In his ground-breaking article at the time, Prabhu (1990) discusses why there is no best method but he acknowledges the importance of the necessity of being “informed” and purposeful for making the right choices.
“……….., for any single teaching context, there is in fact a method that is best and, further, we are able to determine what it is.” (p.163).
Therefore, we cannot do whatever feels right there and then. We need to know why we are doing what we are doing and how effective what we are doing is.
Richards (2005) discusses the importance of theory while planning and preparing language teaching materials and revisits communicative language teaching principles considering current interpretations. Below is a summary of his list of underlying principles of CLT and the link to the full document is here.
1. Meaningful communication and interaction
2. Effective tasks promoting negotiation of meaning
3. Relevant, purposeful, interesting and engaging content
4. Inductive and discovery learning of the rules and time for reflection on language analysis
5. Integration of skills
6. Language learning is a gradual process (mistakes are normal but the ultimate aim is accuracy and fluency)
7. Language learners have different ways of learning
8. Awareness of language learning and communication strategies
9. Opportunities for students to use and practice the language
10. Promotion of collaboration and sharing.
So considering all these, I decided to start a chain of blog posts where I will introduce some classroom scenarios and will ask you to critique the lesson stages taking these principles account. I will then list my ideas to improve e aspects of the given scenario.
First scenario will come soon.
I look forward to your contribution and comments.
References
Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy. White Plains, NY: Longman.
Prabhu, N.S. (1990).There Is No Best Method-Why? TESOL Quarterly, 24(2), 161-176. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0039-8322%28199022%2924%3A2%3C161%3ATINBM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M
Richards, J.C. (2005). Materials Development and Research-Making connections Retrieved September 1, 2012, http://www.professorjackrichards.com/wp-content/uploads/materials-development-making-connection.pdf