TESOL Kozhikode

This lesson was all about the different teaching methods teachers can utilize when teaching a foreign language. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on what level the students are at. It is beneficial to use more than one method instead of focusing on just one. This allows the students a wider variety of learning techniques and keeps them thinking. Using different teaching methods keeps the students thinking instead of allowing them to fall into a repetitious cycle of learning. I learned that there are three types of ESA, Engage-Study-Activate, lessons a teacher can play out. The first is the Straight-Arrow lesson, which follows the three stages of ESA exactly. The Boomerang ESA switches up the stages of the lesson. It begins with Engage, followed by an Activate portion, and then the Study stage, all of which is concluded with another Activate stage. This alternative tends to be best suited for higher level classes as the Activate steps require a good amount of language knowledge. The third option for ESA is the Patchwork lesson. A Patchwork lesson allows for more teacher flexibility. It allows the teacher to anticipate what the class needs next and then what step to move onto from there. For example, instead of moving from Engage straight into Study, the teacher might have the class work through a role-play game and debate first and then loop back around to the Study stage. This keeps the class interesting and less predictable.