4. Communication-, interactive-centred and problem-, experience-based learning and teaching

Thinking questions

• What kind of interactive activities[1] can you challenge your learners’ communication?
• With what methods could you develop your problem- and experience- based teaching?
• How does problem-based learning encourage young learners’ learning?

“...many language students (even adults)...like to be told what to do, and they only do what is clearly essential to get a good grade -- even if they fail to develop useful skills in the process. Attitudes and behaviours like these make learning more difficult and must be changed, or else any effort to train learners to rely more on themselves and use better strategies is bound to fail.”[2]

It is emphasized by educators and practitioners that learners right from the very beginning of their learning should be taught

• to become more self-directed
• to give the opportunity to become problem-oriented
• to solve the problems
• to ask for clarification, verification and correction