How to Keep Your Language Students Interested

By Les Huysmans

Photo adapted from Nothing Ahead @ Pexels

Many educators have explored new methods to enhance language education in classrooms. Traditional approaches often involve introducing grammar rules, practicing them, and asking students to write sentences based on those rules. However, this method tends to fall short in fostering genuine language acquisition. Instead, a shift towards teaching language in a natural, immersive way can yield better results.

Why Traditional Methods Fall Short

Traditional language teaching methods, which focus heavily on grammar rules and isolated vocabulary lists, often lack the context necessary for students to understand and use language naturally. This can lead to disengagement and poor retention.

1. Lack of Context: Teaching grammar rules in isolation doesn’t provide the necessary context for students to understand and apply language effectively. For instance, learning about adjectives without seeing them used within meaningful sentences makes them abstract and disconnected from actual communication.
2. Engagement Deficit: Traditional methods can be monotonous, leading to disengagement. Students might memorize rules for tests but struggle to use them in real-life situations, resulting in poor practical language skills.

The Benefits of a Natural Approach

Research shows that children learn languages more effectively through natural, immersive experiences. This approach can be applied in classrooms to help students develop genuine language skills.

1. Storytelling and Reading

Example: Incorporating storytelling sessions where students listen to and read stories can expose them to vocabulary and grammar in context while sparking their interest.

• Practical Application: Teachers can read a story aloud and then discuss it with the class, asking students to predict what happens next or describe characters and settings. This encourages the use of descriptive language naturally.
• Benefit: This method immerses students in the language’s rhythm and flow, helping them internalize grammatical structures without conscious effort.

2. Natural Conversations

Example: Engaging students in conversations about topics that interest them, such as their hobbies or current events, can make language learning more relevant and enjoyable.

• Practical Application: Starting a discussion about a recent school event or a popular TV show can encourage students to express their thoughts and ask questions, naturally guiding them on vocabulary and sentence structure.
• Benefit: Real conversations help students practice language in a meaningful way, enhancing their ability to use it naturally.

3. Interactive Activities

Example: Role-playing and simulations can create immersive language experiences, making learning dynamic and fun.

• Practical Application: Setting up a mock market where students buy and sell items or simulating a travel scenario where they navigate an airport or order food at a restaurant can promote active language use.
• Benefit: These activities foster practical language skills, promoting active use of language in realistic contexts.

Addressing Common Concerns

“But what about grammar?”

Grammar is crucial, but it should be integrated naturally rather than taught in isolation. Through storytelling, conversations, and interactive activities, students encounter and absorb grammatical structures as they see them used in context. Specific grammar points can be reinforced through targeted mini-lessons addressing observed needs.

“How is progress measured?”

Progress can be assessed both formally and informally. Regular quizzes and tests can check understanding of vocabulary and grammar in context, while observations during conversations and interactive activities can gauge practical language use. Portfolios of written and spoken work can provide comprehensive insights into students’ progress.

Shifting from traditional, rule-based methods to natural, immersive language learning can significantly enhance language education. By creating environments where students are exposed to language in meaningful contexts, educators can help them develop fluency and confidence. Embracing storytelling, conversations, and interactive activities can foster a love for language learning and improve practical language skills.

Further Reading

For additional insights into natural language acquisition, consider exploring works by Stephen Krashen on language acquisition and James Asher’s Total Physical Response (TPR) methodology. Both provide valuable frameworks supporting the benefits of immersive, context-rich language learning.