The Effects of Visuals in EFL Classes

       There are various types of teaching methods which are applied in schools.  Teachers try to make the courses attractive for the learners.  Thus, they apply a number of effective strategies so that the pupils can focus on the lessons, and perceive the information well.  Benefiting from visual aids is one of the effective methods which is preferred by most teachers.  That is, visuals are good and useful tools for the lessons.  Particularly, visuals play a major role in EFL classes in terms of facilitating the learning process, making the lessons more catchy for the students, and making the students creative.

       To begin with, visuals facilitate the learning process for pupils in EFL classes.  In other words, visul aids make the lessons more vivid, and attract the students’ attention. Specifically, language learners have a chance to see, hear or touch the objects while learning. Thus, visual aids make the information permanent in students’ minds (Carrales, 2008).  For instance, if teachers prepare a presentation related to the topic, students perceive the information in a  better way thanks to coloured pictures or diagrams. That is, the illustrations or diagrams which are used in presentations help students clarify the gist of the topic.  Due to this, the learners do not have difficulty in recalling the subjects.  In addition to this, if teachers give an opportunity to foreign language learners to watch videos related to their recent subjects, the students can improve their listening skills (Herron, 1994).

       In addition to facilitating the learning process for pupils and making the information more permanent in their minds, visuals lead foreign language learners to be more active in class. Thanks to viusal aids, learners estimate, deduce and comprehend the information easily because illustrations make even the most complex situations more real and genuine (Dhabi, 1999).  Due to this, they participate in the lessons in a willing mood, and they become more eager to learn new information because they do not get bored while acquiring.  For instance, watching sub-titled movies related to the subject or solving online tests on the Internet in EFL classes makes the foreign language learner more enthusiastic towards the learning process (Mueller, 1980).

       Additionally, the information takes shape clearly in the students’ minds thanks to visual aids used in EFL classes.  Visuals are quite significant for the students in terms of using their imagination while learning.  That is, they make the information concrete by thinking about it.  Due to this, they easily recall what they have learned. It is obvious that visual aids help the students to perceive the information well instead of causing memorization.  Since there is no memorization, the learners can think in a free way and use their imagination.  As a result, they become creative individuals thanks to acquiring the information via visuals. 

       All in all, the significance of using visual aids in EFL classes is an undeniable fact. They both make the topic more simple, and attract the students' attention during the lessons. When teachers benefit from coloured pictures, illustrations, videos or diagrams, students do not have difficulty in perceiving the subject (Bailey, 2001). Visual aids also make the information more permanent in learners’ minds. In addition, since the students find the lessons interesting due to visuals, they become more active in class. Benefiting from visual aids in the EFL classrooms is not a traditional method. So, it takes attention. For effective foreign language instruction, teachers should use visual aids in order to make all students acquire at least one foreign language in an easy way.

Reference
Adelson-Goldstein, (2006). Curtis & Bailey (2001). Wright & Haleem, (1991). Wright (1989).
Carrales, K. (2008). Getting Your Hands on Learning: Manipulative Tools in Content ESL / EFL InstructionLatin Americans Journal of CLIL.
Dhabi, A. (1999, June), Current Trends in English Language Testing Conference, United Arab Emirates.
              Herron, C. An investigation of the effectiveness of using an advance organizer
              to introduce video in the foreign language classroom. Modern Language
              Journal, 78, (1994): 190-198.
Mueller, G. Visual Contextual Clues and Listening Comprehension: An experiment.
              Modern Language Journal 64 (1980): 335-40.          

The Similarities and the Distinctions of My Teachers

       Teachers have a significant role in the development of students.  For this reason, they try to do their best to educate students by benefiting from technology in class and applying efficient methods (Campbell J, Kyriakides L, Muijs D, Robinson W, 2004).  In addition, teachers make students participate in the lessons with presentations.  However, each educator applies different techniques which are efficient or insufficient according to the students.  When I was in high-school, I had two English language teachers.  Although both of them were good teachers, they were similar and different in some ways.

       To begin with, two English language teachers of mine shared certain similarities.  First of all, they were both using technology during the lessons.  For instance, we were watching subtitled films to improve our listening skills.  Furthermore, both of my teachers told the subjects by benefiting from diagrams and pictures via presentations.  Due to this, the information became permanent in our minds. Secondly, both of my teachers were applying effective teaching methods.  In other words, they let us study in pairs or groups. The interaction made us more eager to learn.  Thus, we did not get bored during the lesson.  Lastly, both of them made the students more active during the lesson.  That is, instead of giving the rules directly, the teachers wanted us to find what the rules were.  In that case, they led us to be more creative.

       On the other side of the coin, both English language teachers have some distinctions.  To start with, while one of them was good at teaching vocabulary by using various texts, the other one could not achieve to teach us loads of vocabulary, since she was more interested in grammar.  What is more, one of them was speaking more clearly and fluently.  Therefore, we could  get the important points easily rather than the other English language teacher’s lessons. 

       Additionally, since one of the teachers was more stressful during the lessons, we were timid and did not want to participate in her lessons in a willing mood.  Due to this, the students were passive and unwilling in that teacher’s lessons.  Nevertheless, it was obvious that one of my English language teacher liked what she did, and her positive attitudes affected the students.  In that case, we were more active and keen to participate in the lessons.

       As a consequence, each teacher has distinctive teaching techniques.  They have a great impact on students’ development.  In order to be different and more effective from other educators, they should be creative.  In other words, they should be imaginative, and apply new methods for teaching. In addition, it is important for teachers to love their job, since they reflect their feelings to the students during the lessons.  That is, if the teachers love their job, the students love the lessons because of the teachers’ positive attitudes.  Otherwise, the lessons may become hard and boring for not only the students, but also the teachers.

Reference

Campbell J, Kyriakides L, Muijs D, Robinson W (2004).  Assessing teacher effectiveness:  Developing a differential model.  New York: RoutledgeFalmer.

      

Being a Teacher

    Being a teacher is one of the most prestigious jobs that requires being a good role model for every person. Nevertheless, every single person has different skills and interests. Therefore, while some people share the view that being a teacher is the best job, others do not agree with this viewpoint. I personally believe that being a teacher is the best job. First of all, teachers are respectful in society since they dedicate their lives to teach not only the information that is related to the curriculum but also the moral instructions. Due to these reasons, teachers play a significant  role in every person’s life ,and cannot be forgotten. Secondly, being a teacher requires being open-minded because they come across the students having different habits or cultural styles. Thus, teachers are the most informed individuals who know the appropriate ways to approach the students. Lastly, being a teacher may lead to fatigue since they have to educate a number of students. However, they are able to find the chance to have a rest in weekends while the others go to work.

Reasons and Results of Learning English

    English is the most spoken language all over the world. In today’s world, almost every single person knows how to speak English well. In addition, parents spend time and money for their children to learn English. Although the causes of learning English may differ from person to person, there seems to be some main reasons. Finding a well-paid job and an ability to communicate with the natives are the two major causes of learning English.

    The first cause of learning English is finding a well-paid job. The salary of a person determines her/his standards of living. Everybody wants to live in confortable conditions. Due to this, people try to learn English to get a well-paid job.

    The second cause of learning English is an ability to communicate with the natives. Every person wants to be able to speak in English on the grounds that we live in a world that is required to know at least one foreign language. For instance, people, who do not know how to speak English, may face with trouble at schools or business world when they meet a native.  As a result, people learn English not to encounter communication problems.

    After looking at the two main causes of learning English namely, finding a well-paid job and an ability to communicate with the natives, now lets examine its main effects which are getting a promotion at workplaces and making international friends.

    The first effect of learning English is getting a promotion at workplaces. To exemplify, a person, who knows how to speak English well, can get a higher position than her/his colleagues in a company. And s/he also leads the company to make a progress.

    Making international friends is another cause of learning English. This is very common in today’s society particularly among students who go to abroad due to their education. In this case, they are able to make international friends and have a chance to improve their language.

       To sum up, after looking at these causes and effects, it is obvious that learning English enable people loads of opportunities. People should learn English since it is the most spoken language in the world. What is more, they should sacrifice their money and time for their children to learn English well.

 

The Importance of Travelling for College Graduates

    Education is one of the most significant factors from past to present. It determines the place of a person in a society. Due to this, every person needs to be well-educated to get a job and earn enough money to survive. Therefore, many parents spend their time and money for their children to attend a prestigious college so as to they can find a well-paid job in after graduation. However, the responsibilities of students do not diminish when they attend a college. On the contrary, they are required to study much more than before to make a progress in their branch. At the end of the college years, the people feel themselves tired. Due to this, some share the view that after college graduation people should go off for the travels for a year before getting a job in terms of some reasons such as motivation, experiencing other cultures and traditions and getting rid of some problems.

    The first reason why college graduates should go off for the travels for a year before getting a job is motivation. In school years, students become stressful because of exams or assignments. Since they have to spend most of their time by studying, they cannot find much time to have fun. Therefore, they deserve to go to another city or a country to motivate themselves and enjoy their life for a year before getting a job. Otherwise, they cannot adapt the work environment easily because of feeling tired and stressful, they cannot be happy with their job.

    The second reason fort his view is to experience different cultures and traditions. When people start working, their responsibilities get increased. Due to this, they cannot find enough time to travel after getting a job. Specifically, teachers do not find a chance to travel for a long time since their students need them. In addition, doctors also cannot find a chance to travel for a long time because of their patience. Due to these reasons, people should go and travel to other cities or countries to experience different cultures and traditions. As a consequence, they gain information about those cities or countries such as the living styles of the people’s.

    Finally, the last and the most significant reason why college graduates should go off for the travels for a year is to get rid of some problems. In other words, the people should move away from their family and friends to find a chance to relax for some time. In this case, they can find reasonable solutions for their problems on their own by thinking without any impression. As a result, they turn back to their hometown in a happy mood and can start their new job with a mind which does not include any problem.

        To conclude, there are some basic reasons why college graduates should go off for the travels for a year before getting a job. Since the students are supposed to study hard to become successful in the college, they spend most of their time by studying and cannot have fun. Therefore, after graduation, they deserve travelling and motivating themselves before getting a job. What is more, since the work environment requires being more responsible, people cannot have a chance to travel very often. Due to this reason, college graduates should go to other cities or countries to gain information about different cultures and traditions. In addition, when they travel, they get rid of their problems and start their new job in a relaxed mood.

OPTIMISM

    Optimist people always think that good things will happen.(Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary.) That is, these people approach every kind of situation in a positive mood. They do not let anything hurt their feelings. In addition, the people who are optimistic believe that there are loads of reasons to be cheerful in the universe. To illustrate, if they face a trouble, they do not think that they are unlucky. Instead of feeling hopeless, they try to look for a solution and believe that they will experience better events in the future. The name of this attitude is optimism. According to optimism, it is possible to see the positive sides of everything if we really want.

    To begin with, there is a sharp distinction between optimism and pessimism which means that the negative events are more dominant than the positive ones in the universe. While people, who believe optimism, are able to get rid of their anxiety, fear or hopelessness and enjoy their life, the people who have a viewpoint, which is pessimism cannot be happy in an easy way. What is more, the people who share this negative viewpoint cannot come across good events since they always think and believe that the negative things will come and find them in the end. However, the people who believe in optimism can easily experience good events, because they send positive messages to the universe.

    Furthermore, optimist people benefit from the results of thinking in a positive way. First of all, they are loved by everyone since they think and speak in a good manner all the time. Secondly, these people do not feel themselves lonely. In other words, they can make friends easily, because they lead others to be cheerful. Optimist individuals motivate the people around them. Lastly, since the people, who share optimistic viewpoint, want to see the good sides of every situation, live in more healthy conditions than the others.

    To sum up, optimism is a viewpoint which leads people to think and believe that positive events are dominant than the negative ones. This view encourages people to think that it is possible to face goodness all the time in the world. In addition, according to optimism, people can overcome every situation by thinking the positive sides. Apart from optimism, there is a viewpoint called pessimism, which means thinking that bad things will happen all the time. There is a huge distinction between these two beliefs. However, people who believe the power of optimism are able to be happy in any case. Due to this, they do not have difficulty in making loads of friends. They are loved by everyone without any hesitation.