The eclectic approach
Language teaching outside the classroom is very complex: students are not only learning and practising a new language but are also dealing with all the factors related to travelling abroad. In addition, your students will mostly likely be at different language levels. An eclectic approach may be the best way to deal with such a varied group (Bax, 2003). As your FSA unfolds, you may need to prioritize one method over another. The method you choose will depend on your objectives and your students’ needs.
For example, a task-based language teaching project such as holding a vox pop on a local university campus might be a good approach if you want your beginner-level students to engage in interactions that are relatively predictable and can be rehearsed as often as necessary. You could use an experiential approach to facilitate student reflection after the vox pop, make connections between what they learned during the task with other topics, and plan for future interactions with locals.
Refer to the Interactive lesson planner [Word, 86k].