Innovation and creativity as tools for teaching English

Today's students live in a changing world where the parameters of knowlegde are redefined almost every day. Internet has given people access to information that one time ago they could only acquire it within the classroom or in a library. As a result, teachers find themselves competing for students time and attention. So the old methods applied for teaching are no longer suficient and effective. The process of how people learn have changed, therefore techniques and ways to teach have to change as well. The most powerful weapons a teacher should use to win back students attention and interest are creativity and innovation. 

When it comes to teach a foreing language (in this specific case english), teachers need to be aware of the challenge that this might represent. Because they are not only giving new information but also this information is in another language. The answer to the problem is becoming a creative teacher, which is an art but totally purchasable (so do not fear those how believe they are boring because of nature, or their parents, or God's will or any other absurd reason. You can redefine yourself in order to be a better teacher). English teachers need to develop a full repertoire of activities which they can adapt to different situations. If something does not work it does not matter, do not give up, keep trying new ways to help people learn because that is the aim. Here are some creative and innovative ideas:

• Immersion activities

Through painting, music composition, a film project, in role drama or sculpture, people have had a chance to share vocabulary, ideas and concepts which gives their reading fresh meaning and purpose.

• Clear purpose

What's the point of reading and writing anything if you don't know why you're doing it? The main goal is to provide people with a clear purpose to all reading, and especially writing tasks for them to connect with the reading. 

• Tangible motivation

One effective way of valuing student's work as well as providing a real incentive, is to plan for a range of ways to publish their writing (maybe in the school or Highschool Newspaper and if there is no newspaper, What are you waiting for? create one!) . The students effort will be double, and the results will be stunning. 

• Meaningful planning

If the school or Highschool allows it, gather with all your english teachers colleagues and share ideas, creative ways for teaching, exchange lesson plans, resources. Create a creative and innovative English Teacher's community. Improve yourself, help others. 

• Inspirational learning environment

This is an abstract point of view. An inspirational learning evironment is not a physical nice place with great colors and lots of resources well made (even when that also helps) but a place in which students feel comfortable speaking, interacting, exchanging ideas, making mistakes and being themselves. The creation of such a nice environment is the teacher's job.

• Drama to engage and inspire

The use of drama is such a powerful tool. This technique helps to promote the exploration of characters, situations and historical events. This process expands student's imagination, and provides them with the ideas they need to give their writing that extra spark and flair.

• Grammar concepts taught creatively

Grammar cannot be taught as a stand alone activity. What's the point of that? People begin to understand grammar concepts, and start to apply them in their own writing, when they start to read with a writer's mind. Punctuation rules and techniques are drawn from shared texts; texts which they have already been immersed in and have a good understanding of. Exploring these, and embedding them creatively is how learning takes place.

So, go for it! Be creative and innovative and you will see huge changes in you and your students.