Photo: Monica Sedra – Unsplash
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The consistent implementation of a routine in the ESL and EFL language classroom has provided my learners with several advantages compared to other groups of students. One proof of this is that, after having consistently used it, my students have developed a higher level of confidence that allows them to adapt and reuse their knowledge in new situations. Another reason why routines have greatly helped me in my teaching practice is that they provide my students with a spontaneous learning moment, as the characteristics of the routine allow each child to explore the language in their own way. They can dance, sing, play, and share with their classmates and teachers. They are not judged, but rather encouraged to use and enjoy the language.
If you want to start implementing a routine in your classroom. Feel free to download it here:
GOOGLE SLIDES DAILY ROUTINE
Another advantage of daily routines is that they encourage controlled oral practices every day. A well-designed and applied routine should include some precise and useful language chunks to be used from the first day of class. Sentences such as “May I go to the bathroom?”; “I don’t understand”; “May I borrow your ______, please” will become ingrained in the learner’s mind and used on a daily basis in the classroom.
Photo: Mario Heller – Unsplash
An additional advantage of the daily routines is that students develop confidence in their language skills, because they can ask and answer questions about the calendar, give their opinions about the weather, seasons, and feelings, as well as their likes and dislikes. This makes the interaction lively, useful, and, above everything else, meaningful.
The routines also improve students’ language and phonemic awareness, since exposure to authentic material, such as songs, tongue twisters, and real-life videos, develops better pronunciation and listening comprehension skills in children.
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