Using cognitive learning techniques to teach PSLE English

Hi guys,

Hope the hot Singapore weather of the last few weeks hasn't been getting to you as much as it is getting to me. (phew!)

I have recently been digging into cognitive training methods and have found them extremely beneficial for use in my english and science classes. Naturally, I thought  I should share them with you.

Basically, cognitive tutoring is all about tailoring the learning process to provide feedback to the student and therefore improve their comprehension and prediction skills. As a lot of you guys might remember from your own experiences in school, lecturing and rote learning are NOT the best way to learn. If I were to be so bold, I would add that it is the LEAST favourable way for teaching language (and science).

HOW DO PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN  ENGLISH?

From my extensive digging of academic journals and looking at the views of different educators and from my own tutoring, I have come to realise that the typical student learns like this:

Basically, the above is a simplified version of a cognitive process.

What I think goes wrong when students are exposed to Singlish or in-correct english is that each of the four steps are interrupted. If the student does not get the correct feed-back from their language environments, they loose the ability to acquire good language skills.

"Is it too late for my DD or DS?"

This is the typical question I get from parents of students when I explain where the problem is in their child's learning process. Here's the good news: It is never too late! No, I don't say that only because I am a hopeless optimist, I say it because language learning is a continuous process.

So what do we do?

 It is important to teach kids that we live in Singapore. Obvious? Yes, but what does it really mean. It means that while it is fine to speak in Singlish to the teh-tarik man during recess at the canteen, students have to commit to speaking and listening to good english in the learning and formal environment. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of Singlish because it is such a good reflection of Singapore society in its colourful, diverse nature. But the cognitive process of learning English cannot be influenced by it. 

Here's my game plan for you guys to try out at home:

Step 1: Listen to. BBC podcasts are fantastic ways of exposing students to speaking good English. I used some of them in my Oral crash course and found that students loved them. Just having it played in the background while DD or DS does their homework is good.

Here's the link to the BBC's podcast page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/genre/childrens

Step 2: Listen to DS or DD tell you about their opinions and thoughts about what they heard on the podcast. If they make grammatical mistakes, do not say "That's wrong!" or scold them. this demotivates them and they effectively remove themselves from the cognitive learning process. Instead ask them " Did you mean ______  ?" or say "So, you are saying that _______." Or at the very least just parrot what they say back to them in good english.

Step 3: Explore your own English by listening to BBC podcasts. They have more interesting versions for adults or even just set your car's stereo or 88.9 (BBC). When you speak better english, DS and DD will imitate you.

I also conduct Oral crash courses for small groups and at the centre I tutor at. I just finished my last round and got great feedback from the students who said that topics and techniques I taught them came out in the exams for this year. My next round of oral classes will be in December. Watch this blog for when registration starts.

As always, I love reading your emails so don't be shy to ask questions! missraja86@ovi.com

Cheers
Raja