Strategies on EFL Learning Efficiency

孫海蓉

【Abstract】The essay aims to tackle the prevailing problem of learning climate and class management. Through a combination of career-oriented teaching and task-based learning， we hope students may be highly motivated and be good at their EFL learning.

【Key words】learning climate； cooperative learning； motivation； class management

Have you ever had a tough time in class？ Have you ever confronted a noisy zoo class – with one rooster， several monkeys， and numerous talking birds？ Have you ever felt depressed for being unable to meet your teaching goal？

Well， various reasons there maybe； undoubtedly， there is a lack of positive learning climate and effective management here.

Learning climate is the key of successful learning and teaching. As Mary Beth Blegan， former U.S. Department of Education teacher-in-residence said， “The most important action an effective teacher takes at the beginning of the year is creating a climate for learning.”

So， how to foster a positive learning climate？

First and foremost， students should be motivated to learn. The latest research shows that students are motivated to learn when they：

1. See the value， either intrinsic or extrinsic of learning the particular material or skills

2. Learning tasks and experiences give opportunity for some success

3. The learning program caters for mixed abilities

In a word， what the teacher should do is to help students see the value， have a taste of success， and build on their abilities. For example， informing them of the latest job advertisement of visa assistants or travel assistants in USA embassy would be a good way to encourage them to learn to meet the job requirements. When motivated， students are fully powered by their inner drive， thus the capacity for learning and growth is enhanced.

Secondly， a career-oriented learning could be a good way to arouse students interest and have a better learning outcome. Teacher can show students the relevance of the course to their future career or job and give them authentic， real-world tasks to facilitate their learning. Make sure all students are actively involved. For example， while a student does a presentation， involve the other students in evaluating it.

Thirdly， a friendly， encouraging environment should be created . That is， students should be helped to “drive out fear”. It is said that performance are optimum when coercion is at a minimum and when a caring climate is at the maximum， so teachers shouldnt be overcritical. Otherwise， anxiety may make the learners reluctant to express themselves.

To ensure a positive learning climate， good management need to be practiced in class. Speaking of management， on one hand， it involves the complex mix of policies to promote a general ethics， with some very specific， shared concrete system in a broad sense. There is a great need of intensive engagement with staff， students and parents about how the systems are meant to work. The schools expectation need to be clarified. Without this clarity there will tend to be conflict， as each party makes different assumptions about what is acceptable and what is not. All staff should take responsibility for managing behavior.

On the other hand， specific classroom rules need to be set up by each individual teacher. As the old Chinese saying goes， “Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.” Teacher need to set the tone—the rights and rules from the very beginning. Teacher and students should work together to make out them. If rules have been made with the students， compliance is more likely. They also form a peers impact on those who tend to misbehave in the class. Rules and rights often interact with each other， for example， the right to learn and the rule for communication； so teacher should explore rules through the notion of rights.

All in all， creating a good learning climate and inspiring the students to learn is the top priority for EFL learning and teaching. Hopefully， with the right leaning environment， teachers can guide students to fish for themselves and feed themselves for a lifetime.

References：

[1]You know the fair rule> Bill Rogers.1998.Financial Times Prentice Hall.

[2]EFL classroom management：creating a positive climate for learning>Professor Fan Yi.

[3]Skills to enhance problem-based learning> Michael Peterson， Ed.D.1997.www.utmb.edu/meo.

[4]Promoting learning> Dr.Marvin Marshall.Teachers www.utmb.edu/meo.