Innovative+ELT+technique+for+young+learners(Tuğçe+Nur+Bozkurt)

**“Eyes Right!” **
 * ONE INNOVATIVE ELT TECHNIQUE FOR YOUNG LEARNERS **

I found an innovative ELT technique in Tech ELT blog by Tom Walton. In this technique, teacher gets all the students in the classroom to stand up and wants them to make a long line. Then, teacher reads them both right and wrong sentences. Students are supposed to turn their heads “right” if they think the sentence read is true or if they think it is wrong they turn their heads to “left”. He states that he preferred to make his students turn their heads but the technique in original says that students are supposed to take a “big step” to “right” or “left” according to the rightness or wrongness of the sentences.

His friend, Jo, who shared this idea with him, suggests having a winner or making these activity boys vs. girls. I think this is a great game which can be applied in the ELT context with the students in Turkey. He says that this activity can be a break for hyperactive teens, I agree with him. Also, I think this activity is appropriate for young learners because with this activity teacher can address their kinesthetic intelligences at the same time providing a grammar activity to them in an enjoyable way. Teacher can make a circle with the students if the class size is not enough for making a log line. And the taking big step can be changed with turning heads again to arrange the activity according to the class size.

This activity should be converted into a game and there should be a winner, because young learners love such kind of competitive games. And, according to the ages of the students this game can be boys vs. girls also but I think if this activity will be applied with the students whose age between 12-14 the game shouldn’t be played according to the genders because the children at these ages can dislike the opposite gender preferring to work with the same gender. So, we do not want our game turn into a war rather than an enjoyable one. And, teacher should monitor the class during this activity so that it doesn’t digress from its aim creating a chaos in the classroom.

Here is the address for his blog; []

Tuğçe Nur Bozkurt 1667526 FLE324/2

I think this technique is appropriate to apply in Turkish classrooms. It is easy to use in a large variety of lessons. For instance, teacher can write a sentence with a blank and two words. Teacher says one of the words can be used to fill the blank and students can show their choice by turning their heads. The activity stated in the comment is also appropriate. Students can show the sentence they regard as right by turning their heads. I agree with Tugce’s opinion about the appropriateness of the activity for young learners since it addresses to kinesthetic intelligences. Moreover, the activity can be applied to adult learners also. There is no problem when students participate in the activity as individuals. However, some problems can emerge when students participate in the activity as groups. I agree with the comment about advantages of planning the activity as a game. Being competitive is both fun and encourages students to work. However, a group of students should not see the answers of the other group, which is hard since students give the answer by a movement. Nevertheless, the game can be played inclass if the teacher monitors students carefully and places students in a position that no one can see one another. Another issue is group members. I think Tugce is right about the problem of separating students according to the gender. Students can make a choice about the group that they want to involve. Or teacher can mark students with numbers and wants students with the same numbers to create a group. I think the most appropriate time to use this kind of technique is the warm-up stage and the end of the lesson. In a short time, teacher can overview students knowledge about topic that will be taught that day or the topic that was taught beforehand. In this way, students have a chance to practice their knowledge.
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