3530. Do Our Lessons Foster Real Communication in the Classroom?

So many good things are happening in so many homes throughout the world, when so many places are closed to fight off Covid-19 or Coronavirus. 

For example, so many parents are trying nice to entertain their children. Even more, not only entertain those kids but also try to educate them. For example in Spain nobody can get out of their homes – only in few cases. So many parents are being heroic. 

Today I wanted to tell all of you readers that we second language teachers have to provide with many chances in the classroom for real and authentic communication. 

We cannot confine to presenting language facts but also we should nicely produce many opportunities for the students to have actual communication. 

Are you teaching a second or a foreign language? Yes? Well, the class should be a marvelous chance for communication, whereas the grammar and the vocabulary are just tools for that communication. 

Or in other words, those vocabulary and grammar have to be taught in order to foster communication in the classroom. But at the same time keep thinking that those grammar and vocab are necessary: no grammar and no lexis, no communication. 

So as to finish: the student, ok, is the protagonist in the classroom and our lessons should be student-centered, but let’s also consider that the lesson has to be teacher-centered: he or she is the main source for activities and communication, and the engine for the students to become autonomous learners. No teacher-centered lesson, no student-centered lesson. Have a nice week!

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