LinguaFolio® Training Resources
Training modules to show how to implement LinguaFolio®
3.2 Reflective Teaching
Developing reflective learning skills in students requires that we become reflective teachers. What does reflective teaching look like in the classroom? Reflective teachers regularly reflect on and evaluate their lessons based on frequent formative assessment of student outcomes. This process quickly leads to the conclusion that the appropriate language of learning is the target language. By using actions, visuals, simple recycled and repeated language, and a variety of creative methods, the teacher is able to remain almost completely in the target language. The teacher helps learners to practice their communication skills by using what they know and increasing new language little by little.
In the following video, teachers discuss the benefits of reflective teaching. How and why has reflective teaching changed their instructional approach?
Watch video here.
Video transcript: “Reflective Teaching” (pdf)
A teacher can hinder learning by teaching everyone in the same direct style or they can enable learners by creating a learning community. In this environment, teachers learn to shift the focus to the learners and encourage them to share responsibility for their learning. Acting as a model, the teacher begins to think more carefully about his or her own language competencies and sets goals for improvement just as the learners do.
It’s important to make sure that the learning activities are actually ones that force the students to produce language, not merely repeat, identify, or translate language. Learners need to be involved in this process continually, participating in relevant activities so they think about what they are learning as well as techniques that help them learn.
The teacher’s role in developing learner autonomy is to facilitate learning and to manage resources in a way that helps promote learning for all students. This includes the framework of ongoing, formative assessment as seen in daily activities. Teachers are the ones who make things happen, like setting the stage for a role-play, providing the opportunities for learners to choose their own homework assignment, and modeling how to assess one’s own work.