Shaping the Way We Teach English: Module 03, Integrating Skills

Reflection on Module 3: Shaping the Way We Teach English: Module 03, Integrating Skills
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Using integrated skills in the classroom is an important aspect of language acquisition as this also improves on communication skills. To encourage collaborative thinking and writing it is essential to focus on skills like pronunciation, verbal, non-verbal, and grammar skills. One of the strategies to encourage collaborative thinking is through using pictures and other visuals in explanations. Students first write on any topic regarding a picture or any other visual presentation of their choice. After each student writes on his or her preferred picture, then reading of his or her writings occurs. Students can then give their opinion on a picture, and this would improve both reading and writing skills through collaborative thinking and writing.
To motivate students it is necessary to begin with receptive skills on listening and reading material, as this offers support to productive skills. Using visuals helps to integrate both skills, as opposed to separate learning of the skills. Because students use both passive and active learning, then students are more likely to be motivated, as none feels left out in the learning process. In essence, integrative skills facilitate both learning and communication among students, whereby choice of content motivate students to take more initiatives in the learning process. However, varying learning activities is also an important aspect of motivating students, as they can learn on both receptive and productive without too much monotony in teaching and learning. If the material chosen is interesting, then it is more likely that students will have better retention of information.
One of the strategies of encouraging active communication and learning in classrooms is through...