The Sunday News
Highway to Success, Charles Dube
IN pursuit of the new curriculum theme I note that some learning methods which have always been there are invigorated now. Some areas of learning were taken for granted by teachers. There was too much assumption on what teachers thought learners knew. Disappointment came about when teachers gave learners exercises to gauge how much knowledge the latter had assumed knowledge. Teacher-centred lessons had become the order of the day. Teachers dominated lessons by telling everything to the learners, yet ministry recommendations were stating otherwise.
Who could blame teachers for doing that as they wanted to push the syllabus and exhaust it in good time? But, this English Language syllabus offered in the new curriculum encourages the use of learner-centred and interactive activities that enable all learners to develop and understand linguistic concepts and their use and usage in everyday life. Functional-communicative approaches are recommended.
Within the functional communicative approach, the following strategies are recommended: be aware that most of them are being used now and have always been used effectively by teachers. It is only that they are now being invigorated as stated earlier on. English Language learners have always debated and held class discussions. Debates have also found space in other subjects like history, just to mention but a few. In many subjects there have been individual and group presentations.
Drama has been used a lot in English Language and Literature lessons. I have no doubt that it has been the case in other subjects. Learners remember concepts or issues better when they have been active participants in the activities. Role play, imitation and simulation are other strategies used and can be used more. Learners should be encouraged to take up poetry by making it friendly to the learners.
The fact that I as the teacher did not like poetry at school does not give me authority to deny learners the opportunity to learn poetry and other related areas. Educational tours are brought in as another strategy of learning. This will eliminate the stereotype that subjects like English Language and the like have no tours. There is a strong belief that these are indoor subjects where all activities related to them are done in the classroom. Educational tours were a preserve of a few selected subjects like history, business studies and science to name but a few.
What is now clear is that schools need to invest heavily on technology. E-learning is the in-thing nowadays. Computers are now used in the classroom and learners are encouraged to do individual researches. Learners will be doing a lot of research and case studies hence need to create enabling environments. The long forgotten puppetry which used to be done at school is set for revival. Just to add a few details on the use of puppets in the classroom:
Puppets are educational resources for learners especially in the classroom. Learning through play is invaluable when it involves the puppets as the most obvious benefit in puppet-play is encouraging the learner’s imagination and creativity. It is an easier way to communicate valuable messages, since the communication is done in a fun and unusual manner, not from a traditional or strict position. Puppet-play boosts confidence in speaking and reading.
This method increases group participation. In a group setting like in the classroom, puppets can be used to increase the participation level of learners and as stated earlier add an element of fun. Young learners get excited props when used in class. In such a scenario teachers can allow learners to create stories or express their feelings about a certain topic using puppets. There is a general assumption that role play and puppetry are meant for pre-school and other young learners especially at primary school only, yet, educationists will state otherwise telling you that puppets can be used at high school level as well.
For example, puppets can be used to act out plays, like Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and many other plays. They can be used effectively on debates and help in the teaching of vocabulary skills and help create dialogue on solo activities. Role playing helps learners understand a situation from a different perspective than they normally would. This helps learners to better remember the situation. It allows learners to play the role of certain characters in these situations so that they are able to see things from a new perspective.
In role play, learners get the opportunity to practice skills they might not use on a regular basis. Skills such as debating, acting, reasoning and learners are able to adapt to situations they might not normally find themselves in, forcing the creativity of learners to be exerted. However, it should be noted that role-playing has its own disadvantages too.
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