Teaching and Learning Styles - What makes a good teacher? How do you like to learn?

You are going to

• discuss teaching and learning
• watch 2 video clips and answer some questions
• read about learning styles and do a quiz to find what kind of learner you are
• think and write about the characteristics of a good learner / teacher / worker / boss

Discuss

• What do / did you like studying at school?
• What are / were you good at?
• What aren't / weren't you good at?
• What do you think are the characteri​stics of a good student? Think of some adjectives to describe a good student
• What do you think are the characteri​stics of a good teacher? Think of some adjectives to describe a good teacher
• Do teachers affect the way you learn? How?

Watch the clip. According to these students what are the characteri​stics of a good teacher? Make a note of their answers. Do they have the same ideas as you?



Answers - highlight below

good communicator

inspirational

sense of humour

friendly

enthusiastic

firm, but fair

respectful

personal involvement

consistency

approachable
responsive

Discuss learning

• How do you like to learn?
• What activities do you like doing in class?
• What activities don't you like doing?
• What are the best ways for you to learn or remember something?

Watch this clip. How do these students like to learn? Make a note of the class activities they like. Do they have the same ideas as you?



Answers - highlight below

powerpoints you can annotate

discussion

making notes

group work

videos

films

kinaesthetic (moving) learning - ie field trips

being shown how to do things

copying notes

presentations

acting

doing things

revision

active learning

games

interactive lessons

helping others

Look at the list again
Discuss which ones you like doing and put them in the order of importance for you.
What is your favourite learning activity?

Do you think you have a prefered learning style?
Read below to find out.

Reading - Learning Styles

Everyone has a learning style which suits them for understanding new information. Most people actually use all learning styles, depending on the specific type of learning they are doing.

There are three basic styles;

1. seeing or visual, 
2. hearing or auditory
3. movement or kinesthetic / tactile (touching).

1) Do a questionnaire and find out what your learning style is.
It may help you to know what kind of learning style is best for you. These questionnaires will help you discover what kind of learner you are. Choose one and answer the questions.
http://www.brainboxx.co.uk/a3_aspects/pages/vak_quest.htm

http://www.ldpride.net/learning-style-test.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/extra/module1/2.shtml


Find out more about learning styles here
http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/cfl/yourlearning/whatlearner.asp



2) What can you do to improve your English study skills?
Read the following ideas for being a good language learner.
Follow the instructions and compare with another student and discuss them.

Becoming a more effective learner 
Look at these 21 ways of studying and learning from Total English Upper Intermediate portfolio (free download below)

Select the methods that

• you use
• want to try in the future
• don’t work for you.

Discuss

• How many do you already use?
• Choose the most important 5 you want to try in the future.
• Why do you think it will be a good idea to try them?

This is from Total English Upper Intermediate Portfolio page 12
You can download it for free here
http://www.pearsonlongman.com/totalenglish/pdfs/cef/upper-intermediate.pdf
Can you think of any more ways of studying?

Find out more about language study skills here
The good Language Learner  http://esl.fis.edu/parents/advice/good.htm
Do you agree?

Writing

Write about the activities you like doing in class and say why you think they are useful for you. Also talk about what you do to remember and practise what you learn in class. (100 - 150 words)



Relevant IELTS questions on teaching, learning, good qualities and characteristics (choose one).

1) People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things; other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you? Use specific examples to support your choice.

2) As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.
• You should give reasons for your answer using your own ideas and experience.
• You should write at least 250 words.
• You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

3) We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.
• You should write at least 250 words.
• You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. 

4) What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.
• You should write at least 250 words.
• You should spend about 40 minutes on this task