Techniques_and_Applications+Mehmet+Ali+Başak

Mehmet Ali Başak, 1734581 Two Innovative ELT Techniques and Applications Technique 1: Visual aides, realia, maps, pictures, multimedia In this technique the students are supplemented with visuals such as pictures, cards, videos, posters and such. I think that it is more beneficial for younger learners because it will enable them to combine what they have orally learned and what they see. The second reason why it is quite easy to apply in young learners is because they really love visuals. Words are usually boring when they are being taught. They like to see things not just in their mind through imagination, but physically with their eyes as well. These visual aides will not only make the lesson more entertaining, but give them a better chance to memorize what they have learned as well because they will be getting 2 different input, one is verbal, the other is visual. It is also fairly easy to apply at schools in Turkey. Maybe showing videos can be challenging on some schools with financial problems, but finding the physical object or at least a picture of it should be fairly reasonable. For example, after teaching the word ‘’apple’’ in class, the teacher may bring a real apple for students to see and hold, or at least there may be a picture of an apple on the board or in a poster form. Either way, I think that it’s a great technique to make what students learn more permanent. Technique 2: Join the Club In this technique, the teacher determines a conversation club date for the whole class, preferably once in a week. In this conversation club time, the students get a chance to talk whatever they would like to talk in English, with a few rules such as not irritating others and respecting the classroom rules. I think this will be a good technique for older students or adults because they will have the freedom to talk the way they want. In addition, there will be less ‘’chit-chat’’ and a more organized conversation compared to young learners. I think that the teacher may give students a very general topic such as movies, or ask a simple question like ‘’Has any of you watched movie A yesterday?’’. The role of the teacher here is mainly starting the conversation and making sure that it goes on the track. It doesn’t mean that the students can’t jump to another topic, as long as they are respecting the rules; they are free to talk about anything they like. This non-strict environment will enable them to be more enthusiastic on using English rather than going for Turkish when they are troubled because they won’t have the fear of being corrected all the time. I think it can be applied in Turkey with proper preparations; it is important to find a date in which all students are available. Obviously, the smaller the class, the easier it is to find such a date. As long there is an agreeable date, place and attention, I think that it’s a great way to improve students’ English skills and give them a chance to have a more real life-like conversation.

In my opinion, Visual aides, realia, maps, pictures and multimedia is a very good technique on young learners because of the reason you have suggested; young learners love interesting, colorful activities in which they can interact with more than words. By making use of their interest, I think that it’s a great opportunity for the teacher to teach the topic both easier and more effectively. As for the limitations that can be encountered in Turkey, I think that at least bringing the real object like a fruit or a picture is very feasible in almost all regions of Turkey. For the second technique, ‘’Join the Club’’, I think that while the technique itself is very efficient, it could be hard to fully implement in Turkey. First of all, brining all students might prove to be a problem. Furthermore, not everyone might be willing to cooperate. Lastly, the students may fed up with the activity itself after some time. I do believe that if we can overcome these problems, though, it will be a very, very useful technique for our students to develop a more real life-like English, which will help them to practice more in real life situations.
 * Comment by Özgür Can Kaya **


 * Comment by Zeynep Ceyhan**

Techique 1 is very beneficial for young learners as Mehmet Ali mentioned. Moreover, I think it is also appropriate for all levels since people can learn better by seeing. Only using verbal insturction or written materials can be boring for students. In an environment they can enjoy, they can learn better. So, I think technique 1 should be used as many teachers as possible. I think it is also easy to use, I mean visual images are available in the technology era we are living in. Technique 2 is very creative. As we do not focus on speaking in the Turkish education system, I think it will be very beneficial for students. They can speak English freely, so they can speak without hesitation or stress. This technic can also be used because it does not require anything, just people and chairs; it is very cheap. I love it very much and I think it should be used in every school in Turkey.