English Learning Circles - Empowering Language Learners to Become Independent

Are you struggling to motivate your students to use English with each other in the classroom? It's a common challenge that many language teachers face. However, Learning Circles can help your students recognize the importance of using English and motivate them to do so. In this article, we'll explore what Learning Circles are, the principles that underpin their success, and how you can set up your own Learning Circle.

What are Learning Circles?

Learning Circles are English clubs formed by groups of students to improve their English through real-life activities. These activities are devised by the participants themselves, rather than prepared by their teachers. While many Learning Circles meet outside of lesson time, you can use the same principles in your classroom to help your students become better learners.

What are the principles underpinning successful English Learning Circles?

The principles that underpin successful English Learning Circles include real communicative goals, devolved responsibility, and a sense of achievement. In a Learning Circle, participants focus on communicating their own ideas in English. Instead of the teacher selecting a text and setting comprehension questions, the students can choose a text and set questions for each other. This helps them become more independent learners by selecting appropriate learning materials and tasks. By taking responsibility for their tasks, they gain a sense of achievement that motivates them to continue learning.

How do you set up a Learning Circle?

You can set up a Learning Circle in your classroom or outside of it. If you're organizing an out-of-school Learning Circle, you can motivate interested students to participate. If you're using the principles in your scheduled classes, you can identify one lesson per week as a 'club' lesson, with the students participating in the types of activities and projects described above. You can guide your students in organizing their club by helping them decide what types of activities they can do and who is going to do what. You can also help them find interesting material for their tasks and projects by brainstorming with them about places where they can find articles and programs to talk about.

Mix long-term and short-term goals to keep everyone motivated. Your students may decide that they want to engage in a long-term project, such as compiling their own magazine. However, it's essential to combine work on long-term projects with some short-term fun activities to keep everyone involved.

In conclusion, Learning Circles are an effective way to empower language learners to become independent. By taking responsibility for their learning, students gain a sense of achievement that motivates them to continue learning. As a teacher, you can use the principles of Learning Circles to help your students become better language learners, both inside and outside of the classroom.

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Let's Review:

1. What are English Learning Circles?

A. Groups of students who study English by themselves, without the help of a teacher.

B. Clubs formed by groups of students as a way of improving their English through real-life activities, devised by the participants themselves rather than prepared by their teachers.

C. A new teaching method for learning English.

D. None of the above.

Answer: B. Clubs formed by groups of students as a way of improving their English through real-life activities, devised by the participants themselves rather than prepared by their teachers.

2. What are the principles that underpin successful English Learning Circles?

A. Real communicative goals, devolved responsibility, and a sense of achievement.

B. High-pressure situations, high-stakes assessment, and strict teacher control.

C. Repetitive exercises, rote memorization, and teacher-centered learning.

D. None of the above.

Answer: A. Real communicative goals, devolved responsibility, and a sense of achievement.

3. How can teachers help students organize their own English Learning Circle?

A. By identifying one lesson per week as a "club" lesson, with the students participating in the types of activities and projects.

B. By giving students worksheets to complete outside of class.

C. By controlling all aspects of the Learning Circle and setting tasks for the students to complete.

D. None of the above.

Answer: A. By identifying one lesson per week as a "club" lesson, with the students participating in the types of activities and projects.

4. What is the benefit of allowing students to complete Learning Circle tasks themselves?

A. The final product will have the teacher's expert touch.

B. The students will not have to work as hard.

C. The students will feel a sense of achievement and become more independent learners.

D. None of the above.

Answer: C. The students will feel a sense of achievement and become more independent learners.

5. What is the focus of the teacher's role in an English Learning Circle?

A. To control all aspects of the Learning Circle and set tasks for the students to complete.

B. To be an available helper, rather than a controller.

C. To let the students do everything by themselves.

D. None of the above.

Answer: B. To be an available helper, rather than a controller.