2+Techniques+Evaluation+Özgür+Can+Kaya

Özgür Can Kaya, 1734946 FLE 324 TEACHING LANGUAGE SKILLS TECHNIQUE EVALUATION The first technique I have found is called Music and Jazz Chant Activities and I believe that it is especially good for young learners. In this technique the teacher gives the students a song about what they have learned. It is effective mainly because of the fact that it is easy for music to get stuck in one’s head. Younger learners will be able to memorize the song far better than giving the required information as simple text. The reason behind this is that the song usually have a tone behind its music, which makes it easier for students to reinforce what they have learned through the music. It could be said that the music itself plays a key role in making students both memorizing things like rules or routines as well as being an element to make remembering them easier when the music itself is given or thought about. I believe that it can be applied in Turkey because music is universal. It may not necessarily be Jazz Chant but as long as it has a rhythm, I think that it will work just fine. The second technique I have found is named Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching. I think that it’s more effective when used for older learners or adults, mainly because of how the groups work. With older people, understanding what group work means will probably be easier. They will be able to motivate and monitor themselves better than younger learners. This technique also gives the teacher to be a guide and director rather than being the sole element when it comes to teaching. It will enable group members to learn how to work in pairs or in group as a whole, and it will also reduce the work load on them if they were studying alone. For example, each group member may work on one certain topic and when they are all done, they can teach other group members about their own topic, enabling them to be familiar with them without actually studying extensively. I think that it’s also possible to implement in Turkey because group work is not specific to one level or target. As long as people know how groups work, I think that it is possible to implement with great results.


 * Comment by Mehmet Ali Başak **

For the first technique Music and Jazz Chant Activities, I think that it is a very good technique to implement especially for young learners because they will be able to memorize what they have learned through songs or music, just like you suggested. The technique’s name itself may sound weird, and I think that the name Jazz would not suit for the student interest at that age, obviously there will be some other simple songs and music suitable for them. One should also take their level into consideration in my opinion. Making songs too long will not help them, so it’s best to keep songs short and music repeated.

For the second technique Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching, I think that it is a very good idea to implement cooperation into the class. However, making sure that all students cooperate and understand what group work means can be difficult. What I really like about this technique is, however, the fact that it means the teacher is not at the very center of the teaching environment anymore. Just as you said, I believe it will give students a chance to teach themselves as well as other group members, thus making learning more interesting than reading and listening to one source all the time.

Comments by Elif AKIN:

The technique "Music and Jazz Chant Activities" Özgür found is not a common technique which is used by teachers in the lesson, because unfortunately they see using music as a instrument just for fun but not as a teaching method. Therefore, they generally do not prefer use it in their lesson acitivites. On the other hand as Özgür said it might be very effective method since it is easy for music to get stuck in one's head. Also I agree with Özgür that this technique can be applied for all levels from beginner to advanced. I think students also like this technique. I believe it should be more common.

The secon technique "Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching" is also very useful. With this technique, learners can improve themselves and learn different things from each other, but I do not think that it can be applied with young learners succesfully. It seems to me that it is more appropriate for older students as Özgür mentioned. Since gropu working makes each member of the students in the group be responsible for each other, they should be on the age of taking responsility. Furthermore, peer coaching might be difficult for young learners. They can mislead each other. Therefore it is more suitable for older students to apply this technique.


 * Comment by Durak CESUR: **

"Music and Jazz Chant Activities" is a useful technique for young learners. They will certainly love it. Every student may find a meaning in this activity. They will participate in this activity because they will be responsible for their own learning. The idea of using music for teaching can be wonderful every student. This techcnique can easily and properly used in Turkey. The activity also creates an oppportunity for learning in a class with young learners. Howerver, usin this technique can be much demanding and tiring for both some teachers and students. Every teacher and student may not have an interest or talent in music. So, using this method may require too much effort for some participants in the classroom including the teacher himself. ' Music and Jazz Chant Activities' is very different and attractive for the learners, especially for young learners as you said. In terms of young learners memorizing songs, I strongly agree with you. I want to add that songs are effective in terms of chunks and structures of the language. I am not sure the Jazz Chant would work as I even do not like it. However, students like music as long as it has a rhytm as you said. The second technique 'Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching' is very effective for adult learners. It necessiates group work and everyone has a task. Young learners would not control everything. So, I totaly agree with you. I also agree with you in terms of its applicability in Turkey. It is very applicable and it should be applied. :) Thank you.
 * Comment by Fatma ÇELİK**

The first technique is perfect for young learners. I agree with you it may not be Jazz, it can be any kind of rhythm because with the help of this technique the information will be long term. The teachers should get rid of classic teaching styles and this one is effective for students. For instance, when I am in primary school, our geography teacher wanted us to use a song for latitudes and meridians. I used 12 Dev Adam music for latitudes and it was both enjoyable and effective for me because I never forgot this topic and the information about them. Thanks to these songs, I remembered easily knowledge of meridians and latitudes. It is clear that all the students will try to learn thanks to this way and it will be meaningful. Also I agree with you, this technique will be appropriate for all level of students.
 * Comment By HASAN ACAR**

For the second one I can say that it is effective for not just for adult learners also for young learners. With the help of "Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching" technique, the students will learn lots of things and they will help each other in the teaching and learning process. Group works are really useful for students and if they try to help each other and actively participate group works, they will be successful. This technique will teach the topic easily but also the students will learn taking responsibility and cooperation with the help of this technique.

Thanks for your reflection...


 * Comment by Ayça AKDEMİR**

The first technique is very suitable for the young learners who seek entertainment in the process of learning since the songs create an attractive and enjoyable environment for young learners. Also, the young learners cannot learn the topic deductively and they should form their own meaning making connections inductively. That's why, the songs are very effective for this aim because they create a context for the covered topic. The context in the songs helps them visualize the plot, if there is any. Both the rhythm of the song and the context in the song contribute long term memory of the young learners, which provides them with permanent learning.

I think that the second technique 'Cooperative Groups and Peer Coaching' has both advantages and disadvantages. Group works help the students work collaboratively and cooperatively. In group works, the students share their feelings, ideas and emotions less hesitantly than individual work and they learn to listen to and respect each other's opinions. In addition, they may complete their shortages and trigger their creative ideas. However, there are most likely to be free rider effect which is an individual’s reduction in effort in order to avoid pulling the weight of a fellow group member. Besides, when each group member works on different topics and teach them to other group members, generally they just learn their own topic deeply.


 * Comment by Abdullah ARAS**

Firstly, I mostly agree with you about your first technique. It is a useful technique for young learners and it can be very effective. They most probably love this way of learning because of the rhythm of the music. But also there can be some problems related to this technique because some students may only listen to the music without giving any importance to its content. In this situation these students can not learn anything that you aimed before. But you can solve this problem by developing a good testing mechanism. I also agree with you about the suitability of this technique in Turkey. Secondly I also have similar ideas with you about your second technique but I think in this kind of working if one of the group members fails, the group fails as a whole also. So, I think this situation most probably demotivate them.