|  | | | |  The fun of learning
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| | We often don't expect to 'unlearn' methods we experience at school or to enjoy returning to a learning situation, but sometimes the two can go together. |
| | Learners' experiences
"When I began learning English as an adult I was expecting to do what I had done in English lessons at school - grammar translation and transformation. But my teacher didn't want me to do that. He asked me to think about grammar in terms of how and what it communicated in a realistic, everyday way. This was different for me and really quite fun for me and my speaking skills really improved. What I thought were language learning skills had no relevance in my new chatty class."
A learner from Africa |
| Learning Style Check!
Ask yourself these questions to see if you are open to new learning styles. - Do you think you are responsible for making sure you learn?
- What do you consider the role of the teacher to be - teaching you or helping you to learn?
- What do you expect the teacher to do and be responsible for?
- Have these ideas changed since you left school? If not, why not?
- How did you learn at school? By drilling and repetition? Discussion? Written work? In silence? Experimentation? Questioning yourself, your teacher and your classmates?
All of these experiences, both positive and negative, can affect the way we think about learning. - Which of those learning experiences were fun?
- If you are having fun, do you think you are learning? Or are you wasting time?
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| Learn it! - 3 tips - As adults we may not expect to enjoy the learning process but this is no excuse for not having fun: enjoyment can be a very positive force and certainly reduces stress in the classroom.
- The informal atmosphere of an adult class can provide a supportive atmosphere and allow the learners a safe place to try something new and become proficient with it before trying it out for real.
- The classroom should combine interaction, such as pair work, with the peaceful time needed to absorb what the teacher is saying. Don't feel anxious if your teacher does not continuously correct you - the activity may be testing your fluency rather than accuracy.
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