A reader recently wrote:
I am trying to find out more on Teaching English PPP
She was having trouble getting a grasp about what PPP or ESA or any teaching “method” was about.
There is a good basic and simple way to look at EFL teaching methodology – or, for that matter, any kind of good teaching method. But . . . let’s use PPP as a simple example.
PPP is only an extension of good basic teaching methodology and that is this:
Presentation = 1. Teach something
Practice = 2. Have your students practice working with it to become familiar with it and understand it and how it works.
Production = 3. Have your students manipulate it and use it with their own information to help put it in long-term memory. PRODUCE something new from what they have learned.
You can even teach mathematics that way.
Give your students new information, have them practice it in a structured sort of way (to help ensure success) and slowly remove the structure as they get better at using it. The removal of structure can come in activities that provide at first, a LOT of structure and little chance for error and the following activities provide less and less structure as confidence and skills grow.
Read: http://teflbootcamp.com/teaching-skills/teaching-methods-for-tefl/
and listen to the audio podcast that goes with it here: http://www.teflbootcamp.com/TEFL%20Methods%20Podcast.mp3
and even more good material here: http://www.englishraven.com/method_PPP.html
One problem for teacher-trainees (student teachers) is that they often think methodologies should be perhaps more complex. It is really not rocket science. It is just good simple method designed to help students learn what you are hoping to teach.
Got it?
TED’s Tips™ #1: Don’t OVERthink teaching methodology. It is simple and it makes good sense to keep it simple. When things get too complex, students tend to not learn what you are hoping you are teaching.
- Teaching Internships in China