Creative Learning Strategies: Incorporating Language Learning into Daily Life
Language learning is a dynamic and exciting journey that extends far beyond the confines of a traditional classroom. As language teachers, our goal is not just to equip our students with vocabulary and grammar rules, but also to nurture a lifelong love for languages. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by incorporating language learning into our students' daily lives through creative strategies. In this blog post, we'll explore practical examples of how language teachers can easily integrate language learning into everyday experiences, fostering a deeper connection with the language and enhancing students' overall language abilities.
Immersive Environment:
Creating an immersive language environment doesn't require expensive resources or elaborate setups. You could for example, encourage your students to change the language settings on their devices, such as smartphones or social media platforms, to the target language. This small adjustment will expose them to the language consistently, even when they're not actively studying.
If you are lucky enough to have your own classroom, use it as a resource by labelling classroom objects in the target language. You could even (with your SLT’s agreement) do the same with different parts of the school (staffroom, canteen, headteacher’s office, etc). You could boost pupils’ motivation by involving them in the creation of the labels and their dissemination across the school.
Furthermore, you can suggest labelling common objects in their surroundings at home with sticky notes, using the target language. For instance, a student could label items in their kitchen like "sink" or "table" in the language they are learning; this may create a level of annoyance for parents, but hey-ho, learning is paramount.
Language Learning Apps and Games:
Probably all pupils own smartphones, so you could recommend language learning apps that offer engaging and interactive exercises. Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel (no, I do not have affiliate links with these), and many others offer gamified lessons that make language learning enjoyable. Encourage students to set aside a few minutes each day for app-based practice. Moreover, board games or word search puzzles in the target language can be excellent tools for reinforcing vocabulary and spelling skills.
Cooking and Recipe Exploration:
Food is a universal language, and cooking can be a great way to integrate language learning. If you are covering the topic of food, and although “cuisses de grenouilles” or “percebes” may be difficult to source (not that you may want to anyway), why not encourage your students to try out recipes from the target language country, in the target language? They can watch cooking shows, read recipes, and even do a review of their culinary adventures in the language they are learning. This strategy not only enhances vocabulary related to cooking but also allows students to connect with cultural nuances embedded in recipes and ingredients.
You could also join forces with the Food Technology Team in your school and set up a project involving the use of target language; this could simply be a recipe drafting project (E.g., a class cookery book or blog in the TL) or even, if your school sets aside ‘off normal timetable days’ for extra-curricular activities, you could set up a cookery class in the TL… Food for thoughts.
Language Through Music and Films:
This is certainly going to be a topic for a future blog post as I believe their impact can be huge. Music and films offer a captivating gateway to language and culture. Suggest that your students explore songs, movies, or TV shows in the target language. They can start with subtitles and gradually reduce reliance on them as their comprehension improves. You could of course set up a "Language Film Club" where students watch and discuss movies in the language they're learning, fostering both language and cultural awareness. As long as it does not derogate from your school policies and ethos, play music from the target language as a soft background while students are completing certain tasks. From my experience, it has a soothing effect, especially during the last lesson on a Friday.
Journaling and Reflection:
Encourage your students to maintain a language journal in which they can jot down their thoughts, daily experiences, or even snippets of conversations in the target language. Keeping a regular diary not only refines writing skills but also serves as a personal record of language progress.
Additionally, you could assign reflective tasks (that could even be counted as homework) where students summarise their day or a specific event in the language they're learning, prompting them to apply vocabulary and grammar in real-life contexts.
Virtual Language Exchange:
Something I have already mentioned; you could connect your students with native speakers or other learners through virtual language exchange platforms. This provides an opportunity for authentic conversation and cultural exchange, allowing students to apply what they've learned in a practical setting. Moreover, it can foster global connections and broaden their perspective on the language and its uses.
Community Involvement:
Again on ‘extra-curricular days’ you could organise language-related events within the local community. Students could participate in language-themed workshops, cultural festivals, or even volunteer opportunities where they can interact with native speakers. There was a French restaurant in Birmingham that used to offer ‘A French breakfast for small groups of students’; there may be similar opportunities in your area (and if there aren’t, why not try to set one up?)
If your local football team (or other sports) have a contingency of foreign players, you could try to set up a visit from players and prepare your pupils to conduct an interview in the target language. This takes some organising, but it’s a fantastic experience, particularly for students with low motivation. Having said that, even just a day trip to a foreign market can be incredibly enriching and motivating. .
From turning smartphones into language ambassadors to creating a labelling frenzy in classrooms and homes, we're making learning an exciting journey. Apps become allies, turning practice into play, while exploring movies and music adds a cultural twist. A language diary keeps memories fresh, and connecting globally through virtual exchanges opens doors to authentic conversations. Let every corner of life become an opportunity for language learning!
