Language teaching methods

Method
A systematic and logical arrangement of teaching steps is called a method.

Strategy
Strategy is the way a method is planned to be used to teach. Several strategies can form one method of teaching.

Approach
It is the viewpoint / hypothesis on the basis of what an educationist develops/ invents a method of teaching.

Lesson plan
A lesson plan is the set of strategies the teacher plans to apply to his students to make the lesson intelligible, memorable and executable for them.

The three stages of lesson plan
Presentation
Practice, and
Production

Presentation
This is the first stage of a lesson plan in which the teacher introduces the contents of the lesson and tries to explain them to the students in such a way that they can retain it into their short term memory as long a time as possible. Normally in a lesson plan of 45 minutes, the presentation stage lasts for 10- 15 minutes.

Practice
It is the practice of the lesson contents the students have been exposed to in the presentation stage. It is teacher-guided and is done with the help of activities and quizzes. Normally in a lesson plan of 45 minutes this stage lasts for10- 15 minutes.

Production
It is a set of activities/ exercises meant to give the teacher a feedback of the extent to which the students have learnt and understood the lesson contents. It is students – reliant (the teacher does not give any kind of guidance). It normally lasts for 5- 10 minutes.

Home task
This is the homework the teacher gives to his students in the light of the belief regarding the extent to which they have learnt during the lesson. He normally takes 3- 5 minutes to explain the task. The duration of the task depends upon many factors.





Lesson plan
Topic
Source materials: An anthology of English verse by…………………….
Anticipated problems Students don’t seem to know…………….
Aims To teach the students …………..
Objectives At the end of the lesson students are expected to have ….
Target skills Reading & writing
A/ V aids Flashcards, OHP
Duration: 60 min
Presentation 15 min
Practice
Production