Kai En’s Teaching Methodology

Learning English in the Chinese Context

Teaching the Kai En Way

 

Kai En’s Teaching Methodology

Both Brian and Ken worked as teachers and teacher trainers in Taiwan under an education system that emphasized grammar drills and error correction. Having witnessed the humiliation of students at the hands of teachers using techniques based on outdated theories of educational psychology in Taiwan, Brian and Ken began their journey to build a school where students were treated with dignity and respect while learning.

They researched various methods through language learning literature while trying out their ideas in class in Taiwan. It is through their efforts and research that Brian and Ken have developed their method based in theory on Noam Chomsky’s ideas of innate language ability and on Stephen Krashen’s theories on language learning.

Both Brian and Ken share the vision that teaching English is more than teaching vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Teaching English is about helping each student realize that they have the potential within to communicate in a foreign language. At no point should a teacher sacrifice the individual’s self-image in order to impart a point of grammar or correct an error. Students should never be humiliated, or made to feel emotionally insecure. We are teaching people first and language second.

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Learning English in the Chinese Context

Chinese education uses a traditional approach to English teaching. This means that students spend hours each week repeating sentences and memorizing lists of words for tests. Teachers also emphasize grammar and the importance of accuracy. As a result, Chinese students have a strong understanding of English grammar, have good reading and writing skills and have a large passive vocabulary (they can understand the words, but they can’t use them). However, after years of English study, Chinese students are unable to communicate because they have had few opportunities to practice. Therefore, at Kai En our goal is to provide the students with as much speaking practice as possible. Our teaching methodology is based on a communicative and interactive approach. Speaking and listening skills are emphasized over reading and writing.

In practice, this means that our classes emphasize student participation, de-emphasize grammar, and promote meaningful communication rather than a focus on the form of that communication. The students are encouraged to practice using what they already know. In a typical class at Kai En, the teacher will use pictures, stories, dialogues and communication games to provide interesting situations in which students use English to communicate. We also use role play as a means of providing students with opportunities to practice in a meaningful context. Our aim is to provide a relaxed, fun, and interesting environment in which the students can enjoy themselves while they develop their communication skills.

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Teaching the Kai En Way

At Kai En we have combined a number of different approaches into a coherent theory and method for teaching Chinese students in a Chinese context. The approach we have adopted is theoretically similar to Stephen Krashen’s Natural Approach, which emphasizes the importance of providing input in meaningful contexts(however we emphasise output more than Krashen). We favor the lexical approach in building vocabulary and our basic classroom management methodology approximates many aspects of Task Based Learning.

In practice, this means that teachers are expected to plan classes that provide maximum interaction to enable Chinese students to build fluency and confidence. Explicitly teaching grammar is seldom necessary as Chinese students have had grammar instruction for 10 – 15 years in school. We adhere closely to five learning principles and expect all teachers working here to do so.

1. Learning must be meaningful – real communication
2. Students need input / exposure to English at a suitable level
3. Students must be actively involved in learning; not passive
4. Students learn best when they are motivated.
5. Students learn best when they aren’t nervous. They need to be emotionally secure.

 

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