In a classroom being taught within the Community Language Learning method, students focus on spoken English and pronunciation. The size of the class is small and students sit closely, preferably at a round table. The students all speak the same language and use the teacher as a means to translate what they want to say into English. The goal is to have a conversation within the group of students. One student will begin the conversation, saying something in their native language. The teacher will then translate for them into English, and the student will repeat after the teacher. From here, the other students can add on to the conversation. During this experience, the teacher is recording the students conversation, but only the English parts. When the conversation is over, the teacher replays the tape they've recorded for the class for the illusion of a full English conversation. The English is broken and spoken slowly, but students can use this experience to practice and get better with time. While the class is listening to the recorded conversation, the teacher writes down what is being said. From here, the students must look at the written script and try to remember what each line means by thinking back to what they asked the teacher to translate for them from their native language.
A fun way to incorporate media into a classroom teaching within the Community Language Learning method is by making a video instead of just recording the conversation. Have students write down a short script in their native language. Then, set up a video camera or have students record themselves on a computer's webcam. By the end of this lesson, students will have a short movie of themselves speaking in English! Use this video to help students improve on their pronunciation. Video-tape students saying the skit every class so that they can see how much they've improved over time.
If you don't have a webcam program already installed on your computer, there are a few free online video recorders available, you just need to buy yourself a webcam from any electronics store for the class to use. Here is an example of such a website:
A fun way to incorporate media into a classroom teaching within the Community Language Learning method is by making a video instead of just recording the conversation. Have students write down a short script in their native language. Then, set up a video camera or have students record themselves on a computer's webcam. By the end of this lesson, students will have a short movie of themselves speaking in English! Use this video to help students improve on their pronunciation. Video-tape students saying the skit every class so that they can see how much they've improved over time.
If you don't have a webcam program already installed on your computer, there are a few free online video recorders available, you just need to buy yourself a webcam from any electronics store for the class to use. Here is an example of such a website:
POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS:
You will need to have access to both the Internet and a computer if you wish to follow along with the video idea. If you don't have access to either of these things, an old tape recorder will work for the lesson as well, you just won't have the video. In this case, you can have the students do a radio show instead? Use your imagination, I'm sure you can think of something fun!
You will need to have access to both the Internet and a computer if you wish to follow along with the video idea. If you don't have access to either of these things, an old tape recorder will work for the lesson as well, you just won't have the video. In this case, you can have the students do a radio show instead? Use your imagination, I'm sure you can think of something fun!