Our Method
We are passionate about teaching and improving the level of our students. Their journey matters to us. From our 7 years of teaching experience we have realised that industrial methods of teaching are not efficient enough. As a result, we have invested our time and efforts into developing a new method. Our method focuses on new styles and ways of learning that are up to date with the modern world. We are a Micro Language School, which means that our methodology is a little different to that of standard language schools, the primary difference being size. We have limited our classes to 4 people. This allows us to use our methodology to get the best results possible for our students. We would like to make our students aware that this is not a traditional academic way of learning. If you are looking for a traditional school, perhaps we are not the school for you. Our methodology is divided into 7 aspects. You can click on each one for more information.
1. Limiting the use of Traditional text books
At Eng Igualada we believe that textbooks should not be the main resource for the course but instead used as supplementary material for homework and to reinforce grammar | vocabulary and other skills practised in the classroom.
So, what resources do we use and how do we implement them in the classroom?
We use our own resources and carefully chosen resources from preferred books and websites to create our class material. We are careful to follow the Cambridge English assessment criteria which are guidelines set by Cambridge which state what a student CAN do at each level. With this criteria we create classes, set homework, provide material and assess students in order to progress through each level of English.
Examination courses are more focused on grammar, writing & speaking practice. They are pre-constructed and require the use of examination material.
2. Emphasis on Communication and Teamwork
We believe it is vitally important to learn the skills required to communicate effectively with other people. Therefore, our classes focus on short grammatical presentations with extended spoken practice activities. Teamwork is really important to us. In the real world our students will communicate and work together with other people, which is why at Eng Igualada we focus on communicating as a team as much as possible to prepare you fully for the next step of your journey. We give you the tools to speak and you use them to express yourself.
3. Developing Critical thinking
At Eng Igualada we introduce critical thinking exercises into our curriculum. Below is an explanation of critical thinking and why we use it in the classroom.
What is critical thinking?
Critical thinking can be broken down into three parts: Reasoning, Problem-solving, and Evaluating.
Why use critical thinking in the classroom?
There are many benefits of using critical thinking exercises in the classroom. Developing critical thinking is important for:
• Improving creativity
• Appreciating other people's views and ways of thinking
• Improving communication between others
• Improving decision making
• Improving problem solving capacity
• Real-world situations
How is critical thinking delivered in the classroom?
We use a variety of Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing activities which promote critical thinking in the classroom. We monitor and assess critical thinking throughout the year and give feedback to the students | parents during the course.
4. Promoting creativity | play in the classroom
Creativity is a skill which is becoming more and more valued in everyday life and in the workplace. At Eng Igualada we believe that there isn’t enough creativity in traditional approaches to education. Creativity has a wide range of advantages including:
• Improvement of intrinsic motivation
• Becoming more expressive
• Improving confidence
• Enhancing critical thinking skills
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Creating a fun atmosphere in the classroom
Play in the classroom
When we are young, play is one of the major forms of L1 language development. It’s the real “natural way” of learning. Play has been called “the work of children” because it is through play that children learn how to interact in their environment, discover their interests, and acquire cognitive, motor, speech, language, and social-emotional skills (American Academy of Paediatrics, 2007). Through various types of play, children learn to discover, create, and problem solve in a safe, caring environment
5. Introducing CLIL into the classroom
CLIL (Classroom Language Integrated Learning) is essentially teaching school subjects in a foreign langauge. At Eng Igualada we are trained in CLIL and experienced in delivering school subjects such as science | art in English. We integrate CLIL into our courses throughout the year and also provide workshops where this method is used.
6. Use of Apps | Technology in the classroom for feedback and assessment
The world has changed and the way we learn and teach is changing too. At Eng Igualada, we have embraced these changes and are using Apps and technology as classroom resources and assessment | feedback tools.
7. Continuous Language assessment | Group Based Projects
At Eng Igualada we do not assess our students with traditional end of unit paper exams.* Instead we continually evaluate them during the course and give them group based projects as a way of grading performance. At the end of the course students will have an evaluation report of how they have developed during the course and if they want they can request an Eng Igualada certificate of level and attendance.
*Excluding Cambridge official examinations.
