Print This Post
TEFL TIPS – Learner-centered Approach
English Skill Level: All
Grade Level: All
Also Called: Learner-Centered Curriculum
Background
The learner-centered approach is a general orientation toward language teaching that has evolved since the 1970s in reaction to teacher-fronted, top-down language teaching classrooms and curriculum. In general, a learner-centered approach focuses on the background, needs, and expectations of students to create a more effective, authentic, and focused language-learning environment. Information about students is obtained through various types of instruments used to determine students’ needs and wants. From this information, curriculum and a syllabus are designed to help the students obtain their target goals. Activities in class also focus on activities in which students take an active role. As students’ needs and abilities change, so may the curriculum and syllabus.
Strategy
1. An analysis is done to assess students’ needs. Such an assessment may ask students what their goals are and what they are capable of doing now. A need analysis may also survey future professors or employers to see what they perceive to be the needs of future students or employees.
2. Curriculum, lessons, and activities are designed to help students reach the goals that they are targeting.
3. Curriculum, lessons, and activities may change through out the length of the course as students’ strengths, weaknesses, and goals are reevaluated.
4. At the end of the course, students may evaluate themselves or each other (or both). Ultimately the success of a learner-centered approach is based on whether students have the skills necessary to meet their target goals.
Strengths
• Instruction is based on student interests, needs, and background.
• Curriculum changes as needs change.
Weaknesses
• The ongoing assessment of student achievement needed to maximize effectiveness of this approach may frustrate teachers.
