The unavoidable return from summer holidays is coming; yes I know, I should not remind about that. But this is not the only gripe of foreign language teachers. The other major one is the bulk of work a teacher needs to put into preparation for each class. How to work more effectively during lessons? How to exit the role of a lecturer and become a genuine support for students?

 

Flip the method and time of work

Flipped classroom or flipped learning is a teaching method owing to which teachers improve their skills and tools, while students gain incomparable support.

The classic teaching method is when students come to classes, teachers lecture to them, explain the issues, and then students are given homework. Boring… – students will say.

The flipped classroom idea assumes that students learn for classes already at home, before a lesson, while the teacher in the classroom only clarifies vague issues and holds practical exercises. This is the time to integrate and activate students, to use modern resources, to develop new competencies in students.

“A flipped class is an actual change of roles in education. A teacher can no longer be the centre of attention – this is where students are. The time of learning is allocated to meeting their needs, and not to completing the curriculum to be fulfilled by the teacher. Students have influence over the shape of a lesson and can defend their own decisions. Under this concept students are teacher’s partners.”

– Brian E. Bennett

 

How to carry out a flipped class?

It is teacher’s task first of all to send to students before classes the materials on the topics you are going to address. It is worthwhile to diversify them, so those can be presentations, websites, videos, podcasts, online quizzes or texts for reading. Under this methodology, modern technologies and tools supporting the learning process are used.

View at LangLion’s blog 8 websites that are sure to diversify any language lesson

You can also record yourself videos for students, which you will place at YouTube, outlining the topics of the coming class, e.g. Past Perfect Tense. You can  attach additional teaching materials to them.

See the ideas for irregular verb learning: Virtual board

The time during class is devoted to exercises, group work and problem resolution using examples. You as the teacher fulfil the role of a mentor and coordinator. Owing to this, students during classes will have an opportunity to review and internalise the material, listen to and dispel the doubts of their classmates, instead of learning, or even worse – taking a nap during your lecture 😉

Use the flipped classroom method and make your students feel more responsible for their own learning.

What do you think about this method?

Would it work for your class?