Techniques and Practices used in Contemporary Language Teaching

Teaching and Assessing Second Language Skills
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The second language is the language taught in school apart from the initial language they grew up knowing. The second language varies in different states and nations; however, English is the common second language in many schools worldwide. The essential skills used in teaching a second language or any language are; listening, reading, speaking, and writing. These four major skills are critical to ensuring that the student learns the language effectively. Teaching and assessing second language skills is essential to ensure that the students are taught what is expected. Through assessment, the learner is trained well and gains more from the teacher than when the teaching process is not assessed. Through inspection, the system produced an exemplary learner. Teaching the second language is also moved to a personal level.
Contemporary language teaching is the primary method of how children learn a second language. The modern approach is based on adapting the old way and modernization of the whole process to make it suitable for the current students. Learning the second language is done naturally through experience, realistic utterance, and emphasis on communication. Teaching techniques are used to ensure that the objective of the lesson and the goals are achieved (Grave, 2016, p.79-94). Teaching the second language includes grammar-translation, the silent way, total physical response, communicative approach, suggestopedia, community language learning, and audiolingual. Assessments are done in the following ways: reading, listening, speaking, diagnostic tests, proficiency tests, placement tests, and aptitude tests.
Second language teaching should be different from how other languages are taught. The second language is an official language in the trained country and is used in public communication. Students need to learn the language because they would use the language. The possibility of students using foreign languages is minimal, hence the difference in teaching.
Techniques and Practices used in Contemporary Language Teaching
The second language should be taught more contemporary to ensure that the students gain more in classes. Techniques and practices used in preparing a second language include the direct method or the natural method of teaching the second language. The direct method is used in teaching a second language, where the second language taught is what is used during the class. Indirect method oral skills are mostly practiced (Brown, 2004, p.9-17). Verbal skills are done through several repetitions of words, and they are repetitively drilled. The inductive method is used to teach grammar, and students are expected to gain from the teacher's oral presentation. The direct approach incorporates one of the basic skills of learning a second language, speaking. The teacher talks in class and the students are expected to learn from the oral lessons and practice the exact words orally.
The other teaching technique is the grammar-translation method. As the process suggests, grammar is translated into a second language. The technique relies mainly on translating grammar and students learning from the translated words. The grammar-translation method is the most traditional method of teaching a second language. The students learn all the rules in grammar and then write simple sentences using the translated words (Goh, 2012). This method is widely used, and it is considered adequate for students who would prefer to learn the second language at a deeper level. The grammar-translation way is more effective because students can understand all the rules in second language grammar, and through practice, they can perfect their skills.
The audio-lingual method is the third technique used in teaching a second language. The method uses reinforcement because it is believed that with constant support, things are learned. It is considered a military method of learning. During learning, the learner receives positive feedback when using the second language well. The same applies to students who would use the second language badly; they are given negative feedback. The method of providing feedback is regarded as the army method (Farr, 2015). The audio-lingual method is similar to the direct method; however, indirect method, students are taught the vocabulary, while in the audio-lingual method, students are taught specific grammar. The other method of teaching a second language is the Structural method. The technique's structural method focuses on the second language's structural part. These structures have rules which need to be followed to make the method practical. Other than the rule, there is a logical method of learning the structure that aligns with the stated rules.
Suggestopedia; in the suggestopedia method, pseudoscience is practiced. The method focuses on what students believe is most effective for them. As the name suggests, students are allowed to present the best method of learning the second language. The learner is offered several method choices, and from the options, the learner picks the most effective manner. Since the learner chose the method, they become responsible for learning the second language because they feel as being part of the learning process. Suggestopedia is divided into deciphering, concert session, and elaboration. The method involves a lot of artists, such as music. The methods selected are mainly based on the class atmosphere and physical surroundings. As a result, the learner is confident and feels equal to other learners. The total physical response is the process where the learner learns by doing. In this process, learning is believed to be effective if it is done through doing (Farr, 2015). The method also focuses on aural comprehension, and other things are considered to be naturally followed. The student learns essential words which involve action and, later on, complex expressions.
Community language learning uses the initial language as the basis of translation. The second language is translated from the initial language. The method also ensures a close relationship between the learner and the teacher. The silent way is the last method of learning a second language. In this method, the teacher does not do much; but facilitates the whole learning process. The instructor motivates the students and encourages them to be more active when learning. The instructor is expected to say very few words, making the learners take charge of their learning process. The teacher is expected to observe students closely and evaluate them. The method focuses more on grammar, pronunciation, structural syllabus, and vocabulary.
Teaching and Assessment Techniques for one or more L2 Skills
The five basic skills learned when an individual learns a second language are; speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar. Several teaching techniques are used to teach these skills. Speaking skill is one of the five skills learned in a second language. It involves speaking the second language effectively. The teaching technique that facilitates speaking skills is an oral method of teaching. Students learn more about the language when the teacher pronounces the foreign words. Through verbal instruction, learners can pronounce words correctly (Ellis, 2013).
Moreover, grammar is well taught through the oral method. Rules in grammar are well stated during teaching and practiced when students talk. The teacher should also encourage conversations. Through conversation, the learner can sharpen their speaking skills.
Use of native language; Native language is the initial language used by t...