How to describe learning and teaching

Though adults may have more trouble with pronunciation and grammar than younger learners, they may still be able to communicate fluently.

Children and adults who acquire language outside the classroom share some similarities. First of all, they are usually exposed to language which they more or less understand even if they can’t produce the same language spontaneously themselves. Secondly, they are motivated to learn the language in order to be able to communicate. And finally, they have opportunities to use the language they are learning.

Children and babies get endless exposure to their first language coupled with emotional support. Adults living in a foreign country get continual exposure to the language at various different levels and can get help from the surrounding language speakers. These features have some difficulty when trying to apply within the classroom.

There are three elements that need to be present in a language classroom to help students learn effectively. They are called ‘ESA’. They are:

Engage: This is the point in a teaching sequence where teachers try to arouse the students’ interest, therefore involving their emotions. Teachers will want to ensure that their students Engage with the topic, exercise or language they are going to be dealing with.

Study: It means any stage at which the construction of language is the main focus.

Activate: It describes exercises and activities which are designed to get students using language as freely and communicatively as they can.