Skip to main content

Needs Assessment


Considering learners style in lesson planning and execution is essential to learning needs. Age and reasons for learning is one factor. Knowing why they need to learn the language will help in identifying what motivates them to learn. This factor will help in designing the lesson to provide what is expected towards learning, teaching and classroom interaction.  Cultural sensitivity will also address personality needs in ways of interacting with others. Being neutral in class will attend to diverse cultural expectations towards learning and teaching topics and activities that will be beneficial towards its success.  

“Adults are selective and self-directed learners. They have previous knowledge and experience which established system of values and beliefs leading their thought.  They have been away from formal schooling for many years and maybe learning in class gives them anxiety and low self-esteem.  They often have a problem-centered approach to learning which focuses only in direct application to their lives as they want to see immediately how the course content is relevant to their current problems or situations.” (Instructional Design and Research)
Aiming effective learning outcome will be determined by using classroom needs assessment tool. This will help identify where student can start learning, how they learn, which focuses their determination and motivation and what barriers of learning they have to help them in the process.


The most common barrier I have experienced in teaching how to speak the language is the lack of engagement to practice speaking after class. When student goes home, they speak their home language; they watch movies or tv programs in their language, even listening to music in their native tongue. Such practices impede their learning productivity as they do not immerse themselves in using English in all aspects of their daily activity.  Learning comes from hearing and using all senses is the best way where information comes through.  Out of the mouth the heart speaks and so accordingly passionate learner succeeds.           

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TESL 110: Unit 1- Why Teach Grammar?

  Grammar is the basic foundation of proper communication.  It becomes a major challenge to converse or write without this foundation. Grammar helps learners to be more proficient and confident in using their language in all aspects of communication, speaking, and writing and more so to enjoy listening and reading.                   Teachers do struggle too, “And that’s because, as I and other language experts have pointed out, they themselves were never taught much, if any, grammar. And appropriate teaching support and materials are lacking.” quoted from the 'grammar-still-matters'.                Though it is my professional responsibility to learn grammar for teaching purposes, it is beyond my present skill to be called an expert. It takes years to master grammar and knowing it all at the top of your head will require years of being in an environment where grammar is t...
Post a Comment
Read more

TESL 0100 - Unit 4: How Language are Learned Opinion to Statements

How Language are Learned 1.       Languages are learned mainly through imitation. §   Indeed, languages are learned mainly through imitation.   The Principle of Automaticity explains how children learn foreign languages when they are living in the cultural and linguistic environment of the language.    It is also a fact that we all learned our first language through imitation.   Our parents thought us how to speak by asking us to imitate them. We all started as imitators before we subconsciously learned all words by listening and being in the environment of that language. Second language learners are also the same.   In my country, most kids learn English by watching English cartoons; mimic them through singing and understanding the conversation by answering questions through the audio-video activities. Imitation I should say is the first step and the best way to learn a language.       2. ...
Post a Comment
Read more
ESL Acronyms These are some English Language Programs that are being offered in Winnipeg. IELTS – International English Language Testing System IELTS is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is a test developed by the world’s leading experts in language assessment on four key English language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is designed to assess the language ability of people who aim to study and work in, immigrate to and integrate into an English-speaking environment. WELARC – Winnipeg English Language Assessment and Referral Centre WELARC help newcomers to Canada improve their communication skills in English or French.   They provide referrals to English or French classes where a person can work on improving their language skills for work; education and life in Canada.   CCLB – Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks CCLB is the national standard setting...
Post a Comment
Read more