DIVERSE LEARNERS: VARIOUS APPROACHES

EDEN C. FRANCO

Change is the heartbeat of growth, in this quotation of Scottie Somers, teachers should respond to call of development. In the field of education, it is apparently evident that teaching styles must exceed the great demand for a new and competitive skills and competencies. We must accept that learning takes place in diverse facet as individual differences exist in four corners of the room. Indeed, educators should innovate and experiment new teaching strategies to cater the 21st students.

If you are wondering what to choose with the numerous teaching approaches available, have you ever tried to make combination or mix these approaches? Is it possible or is it effective? The mere fact behind this question is actually palpable in the teaching environment. It is so called Eclectic Approach, a method in teaching language education witch combine various approaches and methodologies to teach the language depending on the needs and abilities of the learners. It breaks the monotony in the class. Thus, it does not gauge in a single paradigm or set of rules but it adheres in different theories and beliefs.

As stated in Wikipedia, There are varied approaches and methods used for language teaching. In eclectic approach, the teacher can choose from these different methods and approaches:

• Grammar-translation Method: It is a method of teaching languages by which students learn grammatical rules and then apply those rules by translating between the target language and the native language.

• Direct Method: In this method the teacher refrains from using the students’native language. The target language is directly used for teaching all the four skills— listening, speaking, reading and writing.

• Structural-situational Approach: In this approach, the teacher teaches language through a careful selection, gradation and presentation of vocabulary items and structures through situation based activities.

• Audio-lingual/ Audio-visual Method: In this style of teaching students are taught through a system of reinforcement. Here new words and grammar are directly taught without using the students’native language. However, unlike direct method, audio-lingual method does not focus on vocabulary. Instead, the teacher focuses on grammar through drill and practice.

• Bilingual Method: The word ‘bilingual’means two languages. In bilingual method, the teacher teaches the language by giving mother tongue equivalents of the words or sentences. This method was developed by C.J. Dodson.

• Communicative Language Teaching: This approach lays emphasis on oral method of teaching. It aims to develop communicative competence in students.

• Total-Physical Response: It is based on the theory that memory is enhanced through association with physical response.

• The Silent Way: In this method the teacher uses a combination of silence and gestures to focus students’attention. It was developed by Caleb Gat t egn o.

Modern teachers or the 21st century teachers were not only the plain channel of learning but they are also a scientist that formulate new teaching techniques to suit with the learning demand on this competitive world.

— oOo— The author is SST II at San Pedro National High School