New trends in foreign language teaching

Language teaching approaches, methods and procedures are constantly undergoing reassessment. New ideas keep emerging created by technology. Students nowadays have access to an incredible amount of English-language material online. But while this is clearly beneficial, it can also be a bit overwhelming.

The idea of spaced repetition is not new but it still works. More and more language-learning apps use the principles of spaced repetition, such as Lingopolis or Olive Green.

They are sites that adapt materials for students like Easier English Wiki that provides students (and teachers) with free materials based on articles from New Internationalist magazine. Newsmart is an app that uses daily, up-to-date content from the Wall Street Journal to teach language and develop reading and listening skills.

Nowadays, every student carries a powerful mini-computer, video camera and audio recorder in their pocket, a Smart phone, and teachers are finding new ways to use this technology in the classroom for learning English.

However, not all the latest trends rely on technology. A very noticeable trend is towards more creativity in the classroom. Creativity is becoming one of the most important 21st-century skills.

Great examples are Oxford Discover a series, based on the 'four Cs' (critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity) and the Macmillan Life Skills series, which treats broader soft skills such as raising self-awareness, and influencing and managing others.

New resources from our #ELTons2015 winning Life Skills site are now available to download!
http://ow.ly/O4Dsn