Language education is learning and teaching a language. There are numerous different methods and theories of language education.

The first method is called Immersive which places the students in unique situations where they must use the foreign language whether they know it or not. The good thing about this method is that it creates fluency, however it does not create precision, accuracy of usage. Another method is being tutored by a native speaker. This method gives the most perfect results. It is probably the best overall method. However a motivated native tutor can be a rare and expensive commodity. The third method is directed practice which asks students to repeat phrases. This is the method used widely by United States diplomatic courses. It provides a "phrasebook" language ability. Within the limits of those phrases the students ability is accurate and precise however the student can not use the language in a natural logical manner. The fourth method is absorptive practice. In absorptive practice the students listen to audio or view video takes of actors in special situations. Most research shows this method to be ineffective by itself.  The fifth method is the grammatic approach. This method a more traditional method and it instructs students in grammar, and provides vocabulary to memorize. As with the absorptive method this method has been shown to be ineffective by itself. Eclectic methods, or combinations are most often used in a single course. These seem the best according to most research.

In my own experience I have found that students who follow several paths at the same time are most successful in learning the language. I recommend 4 in depth approaches with a foreign teacher described below.

Movies

1. Find a hollywood movie.

2. The class begins the movie by listening and writing a script to the movie in sections.

3. Do a little at a time. Once you have some of the script begin studying the vocabulary meanings, vocabulary pronouniation, and phrases and continue with more of the movie only when you have a full understanding of each section.

4. While processing the movie, role play sections of the movie by writing a scene summary and allowing the students to use their own words.

5. When you have finished the whole movie, finished various role plays taken from the movie, finished listening to, writing, studying, all sections of the movie itself, then you can go back and enjoy the movie.

Using the listening, writing, role playing, vocabulary, phrase as an eclectic method insures long lasting impressions and ability to understanding the language in context while remembering the the language through a vivid multimedia approach.

Text Study

1. Find a novel or specialized academic book.
2. Start at page one and copy the novel into a notebook. The whole novel works best but chapters are ok if time does not allow a full novel.
3. Study the vocabulary, phrases and pronounciations.
4. Write summaries for selected scenes and allow the students to act out those scenes.

Although the novel method is not as vivid as the movie method. The student still brings the language into the mind most importantly by copying the book into their own notebook and second most importantly by using the vocabulary in a life scene performance.

Music

1. Find a song
2. Listen to the song until you have written all the words
3. Study the words, phrases, political, and meaning in context with the time.
4. Sing the song together as a class.

As you can see we are getting farther away form effectiveness however this adds to the effectiveness of study. Songs are sang accenting different syllables, in slow motion, and in fast motion usually with a very unique langauge style not found in movies or books. This helps for identifying the words when listening to speakers with different accents, as well as recognizing pop language, phrases and usage.

Group Speaking

And when it's all over, don't forget to talk. Talking in groups helps you get comfortable with using the language and helps to build confidence in knowing that your ideas can be communicated.

As you can see, in these four modules I have incorporated 4 methods of study that is interesting, academic, and effective providing for a solid education in language. If the training center you are currently paying is not doing these things, then you are wasting your money. If you want a good teacher, contact me, and I will teach you English.

Michael

glasglow@hotmail.com