WEEK 9 (REFLECTIONS)

LEARNING STYLES

       I  have  learned  throughout  the   years  of  my  teaching career  that there  is  to  know one’s students, their  strengths,  weaknesses, likes and  learning  preferences.  Doing so benefits both the teacher as well as his/her students.  It  only  requires limited  investment  in  time and a few other  resources (assessment, survey and  planning), which  is  nothing compared   to  all  the  benefits  it  yields. Learning  is  very  often thought of  as  dull  since  teachers  do not  take  some time  out  to  talk  to  their  students and  learn  some  rather important facts  about  them. Teachers,  more  often than not,  make  the  big mistake  of  teaching  the  very  same  way  as  they  were   taught.  Such a fact may scar some our students for life.  I  very often  encounter students  who  feel  they  have  not  learned  anything  throughout  the  years  of  language instruction (10, 12  years).  I  mainly  think  that  such  a stalemate  point  is  due  to  teachers’  neglect  in meeting  their  students’  learning expectations  and preferences (styles)  in the target language. Technology may be the answer to breaking such a not-learning point. Including  technology   in our  lesson plans will  have  such  a  great  impact  since  it  boosts   different  learning  styles  by  properly  using  varied  strategies and  techniques. There  is  to  acknowledge  the  fact  that  people  learn  differently; thus, effective  teaching  has  no  recipe but  it is to  evolve  and  adapt as  needed, so  that  the  best  results  are obtained.

TECHNOLOGY

       Technology is to be adapted in order to meet students’ needs in the target language.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  characteristics  of  technology  is  its adaptability; there  is  to  take  full  advantage  of  such  a  fact.  Teaching  is  to be  student- centered; therefore,  technology as  well as  any  other  teaching-learning resource  must suit what students  learning  requirements suggest. It is  not  a  matter of  having cutting-edge technology  in  every language classroom but to make  the  best  use  of  whatever technological resource available (which is only attained through good  training). Successful  second language   learners are  usually people  who know  how  to  manipulate  style (as  well  as  strategy)  levels  in their   day-to-day encounters with  the  language.  This  means  that  they  are  first  aware of  general  personality  and  cognitive characteristics or tendencies that  usually lead  to  successful  acquisition  and  strive to  develop  those  characteristics (Brown, 2001) .  Good teachers are to make sure students succeed in their learning. Educators  are  to  design  their  lessons  in  such  a  way  that  they   take  full advantage  of  their  students’ potential and trigger learning at all times. On  a  daily  basis,  technology  makes headway into meeting social requirements; education  will  always  be  part  of  such  a requirement. Thus, learning how to properly use it, in the classroom, will make teaching easier and more fruitful.

Best Regards,

Fernando Minda