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Keep it in context

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

No one would disagree that we should teach language in context, which means leaners will be able to see how a language is used in everyday life. Examining what "context" really is, Vinogradov (2008) takes a careful look at LESLLA learners' lives and provides the following tips:

1. Include topic or activities that are interesting, meaningful, and important to learners
Effective teaching is always about learners' needs. Many LESLLA learners live busy lives and want to make the most of their time. Literacy classes are non-credit and learners can quit anytime they like. It is important to teach what is interesting, meaningful, and important to them so that they would keep coming back to class.

2. Show interests in learners' responses
Teachers have to understand learners better in order to design relevant lessons for the learners. Therefore, LESLLA teaching should not begin with teaching alphabet, but conversations and questions that allow learners to talk about themselves and their stories (Vinogradov, 2008).

3. Use images that are familiar to the learners
Teachers should start their teaching with pictures from magazines, family photographs, and videos; they can also ask learners to draw pictures for their class (Wrigley, 1993). This makes things more concrete and thus easier for LESLLA learners to understand. Moreover, using familiar objects in the classroom can reduce anxiety and arouse interests.

4. Challenge learners to think
LESLLA learners are adults and have invaluable life experiences. Our teaching should not make them feel inadequate; instead, challenge them with questions that push them to think and allow them to express their opinions. The desire to express themselves motivates learners to keep on learning or even to work harder.


Related activities/techniques/tools: