Action Language Learning: Promoting Chinese Language Through Creative Teaching Methods
Courses for Educators
World Language Teaching Methods Certificate
This series of five courses provides second language instructors with the practical hands-on skills needed to create a dynamic classroom learning environment. Students will earn five University of Wisconsin Colleges credits and will receive a certificate of completion. This series is designed for pre-service and beginning K-12 and community language and ESL instructors. It is especially targeted to teachers of least commonly taught languages.
World language programs are often initiated with high expectations only to founder because instructors lack the proper methods to guide students through the critical beginning and intermediate stages. This results in high attrition rates and lower ongoing enrollments that hamper or halt the expansion and growth of a program. This series provides language instructors with the tools to create a dynamic learning environment that can put students of all ages and backgrounds on the path to fluency.
- Strategies for Learning or Teaching a Second Language
- Active Methods for Language Instruction
- Differentiation of Instruction for Language Learners
- Developing Thematic Units and Lesson Plans for Second Language Instruction
- Developing Classroom Materials for Second Language Instruction
Course Descriptions
Strategies for Learning or Teaching a Second Language
This class provides tools to design a dynamic language plan for yourself, your students or your organization. It is designed both for new teachers of second languages and those who wish to learn a second language. This class will equip second language learners with strategies for learning a language more efficiently. We will also explore learning styles and how best to exploit these styles to maximize language acquisition. For classroom teachers who work with English language learners, this class will provide insight on how your students acquire a second language. Language revitalization teachers also benefit from this course. You will interact through simple learning-by-doing activities presented using both Mandarin Chinese and the target language of participants. You will also create a personal language learning plan for yourself or another individual.
Active Methods for Language Instruction
How can a teacher bring authentic communication into a classroom and make it look real? This learning-by-doing course will provide you with practical methods and activities that tap the communication modality and help transform your classroom into a dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Tapping into the multiple intelligences, methods will be demonstrated using Mandarin Chinese and the target language of participants.
Differentiation of Instruction for Language Learners
Not all students will be at the same level or progress at the same pace. How do you keep them all engaged in the same classroom? Through demonstration of active, hands-on and practical methods and techniques, this course helps language instructors examine the characteristics of an effective differentiated classroom. You will learn how to frame instruction around mastery of essential understandings and how to introduce differentiation of content, process and products. The teacher will learn how to differentiate on the basis of students’ readiness, interest and learning profiles. Special concerns of differentiation in the world language and ESL classroom will also be discussed. Students will use the principles taught in class to create and demonstrate a differentiated lesson plan.
Schools and organizations have different philosophies and expectations for instruction. Students, meanwhile, have different needs based on their ages, learning styles, time constraints, groups, culture, ability and myriad other factors. Learn how to create lesson plans that reflect the goals and philosophies of your organization while meeting the unique needs of the students. We will examine best practices for structuring and sequencing a lesson and create rubrics that keep teachers and students focused on goals, objectives and learning outcomes.
Developing Classroom Materials for Second Language Instruction
Every instructor has a unique style and every class a different need. Learn to create the materials that match your style and the needs of your students. Building on the knowledge you have gained in this series, you will learn to create materials that will bring your active methods to life. Students will understand the different types of materials needed for the classroom and how to create them. Types of materials will include games, music, booklets, texts and manuals, and use of technology as a teaching tool.