Best Methods for Teaching English in 2024

English is the lingua franca of the modern world. Its popularity and, hence, its teaching have gone from traditional grammar-translation methods to dynamic and tech-enhanced approaches.

The journey of English language teaching methods shows how educational philosophy shifted.

In the 19th century, students would follow the grammar-translation method. They would translate texts and learn complex grammar rules. This method gave students few chances to communicate in English. And it left them with few practical skills.

In the mid-20th century, audiolingualism came into place. This method focused on repetition and drills. Students memorized dialogues and practiced pronunciation by mimicking. However, it also failed to make fluent speakers.

Communicative method

In the 1970s a breakthrough in English teaching methodology took place. The approach shifted from learning to communication. Meaning that language is not a set of rules, but a tool and we must use it in real-life context.

The key principles include:

• Focus on fluency. Do not be mistaken, accuracy is also important. However, the goal is to encourage students to express themselves freely even with mistakes.

I like to let my students express their thoughts, while I am writing down their mistakes. After they have finished, I go through them, and we correct them.

When your student makes mistakes talking, it does not always mean they have a knowledge gap. It may also mean the knowledge is not automatic yet.

• The next principle is to focus on real-case scenarios. You can use real-life materials such as newspapers, podcasts, and videos. They will help your students connect the learning during a lesson with practical language use.

I remember one of my students once told me after a podcast: “People in the podcast spoke so weird, they used em, hmm, er… too much, it was very difficult to understand”.

Of course, it will be difficult in the beginning, as he always listened to polished audio. But the real-life conversations are never so polished.

• The third principle is task-based learning. Where students engage in activities that mirror real-life situations.

For example, I like to include activities like ordering food, giving presentations, and pitching ideas. Students enjoy them and feel at ease to repeat them outside of the classroom, as they have already done them.

• The last principle is student-centered learning. This is one of my favorite principles and applies to us as tutors. The teacher acts as a facilitator, allowing students to take an active role in their learning process.

You can implement the communicative approach in your lessons in many ways.

Some of the ideas for activities are role-playing exercises that simulate real-life scenarios. Also, group discussions on current events or topics of interest.

For example, one of my students is very interested in design. So, we frequently take some articles and news regarding it. And the learning process becomes both enjoyable and profitable for him.

Besides, you can implement project-based assignments that require collaboration and presentation skills.

Even if you teach individual students, you will be surprised how gladly they will do a presentation on opening their dream restaurant.

The Flipped Classroom

The Flipped Classroom method approach has become very popular in recent years. And on top of that very effective. This approach literally inverts the traditional teaching model.

In the traditional teaching model, you as a teacher introduce and explain the material and give the homework to practice.

The flipped classroom means that your students engage with the new material at home through readings and pre-recorded lectures.

During the lesson, you focus on practice, through interactive activities, discussions, answering questions, etc.

As you may have already thought, this method has many benefits. To begin with, it increases active learning time.

We can both agree here that most of the homework you can give is designed for passive learning.

During the lesson, your students can apply knowledge with their peers or with you. And have lots of active practice, rather than passive receiving information.

Moreover, this method provides a personalized learning pace. Not everyone absorbs information at the same speed. Within the timeframe of the lesson, it is very difficult to accumulate everyone’s needs.

Even if you are prepared at your best, it does not mean that some of your students are not tired or sick.

Therefore, when you flip it, your students can review materials at their own speed and rewatch or reread materials as needed.

You as a tutor, also have more advantages with this method than with the traditional approach. As you have more time to work one-on-one with your students during lessons.

And finally, a flipped classroom engages students more during the lessons. They are more motivated and invested in their learning when they are not passive but active participants.

Now let’s talk about flipped classroom implementation.

First, you will need to create and curate video lessons and readings. Then you share them with your students to review before a class.

Based on the new materials you will need to design in-class activities. And use tools to assess students’ understanding and guide instruction.

This method can be particularly effective for teaching complex grammar concepts. It allows deeper exploration and discussion during class time.

Embodied Learning

This method is an innovative approach. It involves engaging both the mind and body in the learning process.

The idea is that learning is not just a cognitive activity, it also involves physical, social, and emotional engagement.

What are the benefits of Embodied Learning?

The answer to this is a complex approach and involves several aspects.

The first aspect is physical activities. Movement helps students retain information better and stay focused.

The next aspect is social and emotional learning. Through group activities and role-playing, students build social skills and emotional intelligence.

Also, you engage the whole person in learning. Hence, it deepens understanding and retention of information. This aspect is called holistic learning.

How can you apply it to your English classes?

As I already mentioned, I like to play real-life scenarios with my students. Depending on a topic or level, they can pretend to order food in a restaurant, role-play an interview for a job, etc.

This practical use helps them develop communication skills and promotes fluency.

Embodied learning is particularly effective for young learners. They often learn best through play and physical activity.

However, I adapt this method for my older students as well. They also enjoy it, since it makes language learning more dynamic and interesting.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

As I briefly mentioned above, I like to combine language learning with the interests of my students.

The point is, that English is a language, and its areas will differ with specific terminology. Most of the vocabulary will stay the same in every area.

Therefore, this method allows students to learn English while studying other subjects. And makes learning more meaningful and relevant to them.

Some of the benefits of this method include increased motivation. As students see the immediate relevance of language learning.

Also, it boosts cognitive development. Since, your students will engage with complex ideas in a second language.

Besides, CLIL often includes cultural awareness. It helps to develop academic language alongside general English.

You may also ask a valid question. What if you are not familiar with the subject of interest of your students? And this is what I love the most.

You can learn while teaching. For example, your student is quite familiar with the subject himself. What you can do is encourage him to present subject-specific information in English.

Also, incorporate subject-specific vocabulary. Use authentic materials from this discipline or collaborate with subject tutors to ask for advice.

If your student is more of a beginner in their subject of interest, you have a great opportunity to learn together.

Search for some interesting materials for beginners. Add the most popular vocabulary in this subject. You can also make them listen to podcasts, watch short videos, etc.

Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL)

Nowadays, I cannot imagine teaching English without using technology. And it is not just beneficial, it is essential.

The world has become a small place, we are all connected and mostly communicate through technology.

You can find books, podcasts, videos, and any information you need anywhere you are. Therefore, we must leverage digital tools and resources. And create more engaging, interactive, and personalized learning experiences.

You can implement an immersive experience that promotes language learning. Imagine role-playing ordering food in a virtual restaurant using VR glasses. I see it as a very real experience and very exciting.

Also, there are adaptive learning platforms that adjust to the individual needs and progress of your student.

Plus, most of our population have mobile phones. Therefore, encourage them to use on-the-go learning.

I, for example, advise my beginner students to set up Duolingo and practice their English while they commute or wait in a queue. It is a very interactive app and gamifies the learning process.

You can also implement TELL using language learning apps as homework.

Additionally, include interactive whiteboards for collaborative activities. Utilize text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools to support reading and writing skills. Your imagination and creativity are the limit for your students.

Differentiated Instruction

This method is particularly valuable in English language classrooms. Where students have different levels of proficiency and learning preferences.

Since there are no two of the same students, there are no two of the same teaching. 

The key principles of differentiated instruction include:

• Grouping students based on their skills, interests, or learning styles.
• Providing tasks of different levels of complexity.
  
• Offering different ways for students to engage with content.
  
• Regular evaluation of student’s progress to inform yourself in teaching instruction.
  
• An individualized approach to each student.
  

To implement this method into your classroom is very easy. You will need to prepare activities for different skills and proficiency levels.

Also, offers choices in assignments, allowing students to demonstrate learning in various ways. And cater them to different learning styles.

By differentiating instruction, you can create a more inclusive classroom environment.

Project-Based Learning

This method promotes the exploration of real-world problems and challenges. Project-based learning can be a powerful tool for developing language skills.

On top of that it can also nurture creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

I am not a huge fan of the constant usage of this method. However, I find it very productive to use from time to time, to differentiate teaching and learning.

Through this method, you can ask complex, open-ended questions that guide the projects. Which will lead your students to research, analyze, and synthesize information.

You can implement it by giving projects to your students like creating a newspaper or blog or producing a podcast series on local issues. Some of the interesting projects are a marketing campaign for a fictional product or writing and performing a play based on a literary work.

Whatever project you will give to your students or even better let them choose, it will engage them. Also, it will make them learn deeper and associate learning with real-life situations.

As we have seen, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching English. I like to use multiple methods when teaching English and combine them.

It creates a dynamic, engaging, and effective English language classroom full of engaged students.