The learner-centered approach in CLT

[erick]

The MOE implemented the learner-centered approach in  Communicative Language Teaching to all schools almost ten years ago.

Any comments?

[Madam H]

I think the MOE is really starting to get their act together. Of course, in practice though, implementation of such new policies/programmes will take time... as we know... old habits die hard!

Our school is going to go under the MOE's scrutiny very soon. They are going to look for performance assessments in our programs, meaning, they want activities and projects that really mimic or practice students in real-life scenarios by applying the theories they learned in class.

These two things, for me, are signals that Thailand is trying to get better in how they deliver education to the young people of Thailand. It's good practice. I wonder how many Filipino teachers though actually are aware that this has been the thrust of the MOE a decade ago. Do their administrators actively promote it? Or is it something that's just ni ;)ce to read on paper?

[erick]

IMHO, it's poorly implemented in public schools.

My THai colleagues are having a difficult time accepting CHANGE!

[Darfur]

i work in a public school. pano mo nmn maimplement yan e mga english teacher mismo dito e d makasalita ng english. ano b yan. saka alang sense of motivation ang mga bata s public. nah, it's useless.

[TARSIER]

I read plenty of policies which the Thai Ministry of Education have implemented to increase the level of performance in English among Thai students but as I observed, only few or nothing have been followed. Communicative Language Teaching? Do the people in the MoE know that most of the Thai teachers use Thai as a medium of instruction in teaching English? hehehhehe... do they mean CLT???

IMHO, these Thai schools or the MoE itself must consider that language is a skill and "Repition is the mother of skill." It might be a fact that they think that Thai students will learn and will be able to speak English by just paying hundreds or thousands of baht to the foreign teachers. In my school, I meet my Grade 2 students only once a week. This week, I teach them "What is your name?", "My name is Somchai." The following week they become dumb when I ask them "What is your name?" Therefore, I have to teach it again and again because they forget it again and again and again. Why? Because they don't have the opportunity to practice it. They learn Thai and a little English from their Thai english teachers.

[yllorco]

Learner-centered approach has some advantages:
1.  There is an active acquisition of knowledge by the students (as opposed to passive transmission of knowledge by the teacher in subject/curriculum-centered approach)
2.  Knowledge is a natural product of development (as opposed to the unnatural sequence of timing of instruction in a content/subject/curriculum-centered approach)
3.  The student is the active constructor (as opposed to 'empty vessel' in a content/subject/curriculum-centered approach), thereby his interest is sustained.
4.  The student develops naturally in a course of set stages in an environment created by the teacher
5.  On one end, this approach is very much applicable to ultra active students who don't wait for the teacher to feed knowledge
6.  On the other end, it is also very much applicable to students who have a hard time following instructions from the teacher (the so-called special learners)
7.  It is more effective to young learners whose learning styles are varied and aren't multifaceted yet
8.  It caters to the learning styles of the learners
9.  No learner is regarded above the other, since every learner is regarded as unique
10.  Achievement is measured according to each performance, and not against an expected score or standard for the whole class.
11.  Very much suited to language teaching/learning, since it's spontaneous
12.  It works well for Thai students, considering their nature

On the other hand, it has also some disadvantages:
1.  There is much adjustment on the part of the teacher to be more skillful and patient as he guides the interests of the student.
2.  The number of students is just limited, or they must be homogenous in a bigger group
3.  Learning outcome/results could be unpredictable and varied, since there is limited intervention on the part of the teacher
4.  Set of standards for the whole class is irrelevant, since every individual is unique in his/her learning style
5.  Needs a specialist who is able to understand his learners well
6.  It clashes with most international schools' curriculum where there is a set of "international standard" to be followed

There are many more than this rough sketch, and this is just one sided approach, but may not be "the" best depending on the type of institutional and instructional curriculum and the type of of learners.  It has its best place, though.