Is Creativity Essential in Learning?
After the review of three elt designer approaches-the silent way, suggestopedia and total physical response, we have devised our own philosophy of teaching. We believe that creativity is essential to learning and if the students are making an effort on their part and discovering things for themselves; the factor of self-reliance is evolved and since the students are active and autonomous in exploration so the learning would be more effective. We believe that for language learners, the language would present itself as a problem or a riddle to be solved.
Learners are required to engage with the language and try to discover and explore it. We believe that peer cooperation is an important factor in learning. This enhances the level of confidence and patience among the students and students learn a lot from each other but one drawback to this is that they also learn each others mistakes. Furthermore, students are asked to review and overview what they have learned in the class. It is by this activity of self correction through self-awareness that the students learn to deconstruct and then reconstruct.
We believe that the use of sound-color chart is really effective in language learning. This chart contains all the sounds of the target language in different colors. Students learn syllables, words and then sentences of the target language through these charts. We believe that the psychological barriers that students bring with them be desuggested. These can be desuggested both by direct and indirect way. Once the student succeeds to clear his doubts and fear, his performance in learning will become quite easy and effective. We believe that activating the learner’s imagination will aid learning.
For example, the learner’s can perform or take up a role or character in the target language that could place them inside the language they are learning. We also believe that when the students are exposed to the information as part of an environment, they grasp it more conveniently with less effort. The use of charts and posters related to the target language are one example of this. Moreover, the teacher’s authoritative role is of prime importance. The main role of the teacher is to deconstruct the self-perceived barriers and to encourage and support the students so that they have enough confidence in themselves.
This would improve and enhance their learning ability. Error toleration encourages the students to learn from their mistakes and improve upon. Language is more effective when it is fun and here the main focus is on the spoken language. The use of commands in language learning makes it interesting. A complete lesson can be designed on the verbs by employing this technique. For example: Slice some bread. Spread the butter to all corners of bread. Put piece of meat on one slice of bread. We believe that the use of “The Arts” incorporate fun in the class and the students can enjoy their learning.
The Arts enables suggestions to reach the subconscious of students. This method maintains a modest enthusiasm among the students. We believe that students should be encouraged to understand the target language before speaking. This method will provide the quick response from students. This will activate the learner’s imagination and help in learning. Motor activities involved plays an important role upon the cognitive learning of students . We believe that humor in the class make students stress-free and learning is more effective when students are in a relaxed state of mind.
