- FORMAL LEARNING follows a curriculum and is intentional, in the sense that learning is the goal of all activities undertaken by the learner. This learning is measured through examinations and other forms of assessment. Adult immigrants participate in formal learning when they take a course in the language of their host community.
- NON-FORMAL LEARNING takes place outside of formal learning environments, but within an organised setting. It does not need to follow a curriculum, nor does it need to be governed by accreditation or assessment. Non-formal learning usually takes place in settings such as reading groups, discussion societies, conversation classes, etc. Adult immigrants will engage in non-formal language learning when they participate in organised activities that combine the learning and use of their language with the acquisition of a particular skill or set of knowledge.
- INFORMAL LEARNING takes place outside of schools. Informal learning is involuntary and is part of everyday life. Informal learning is also incidental.
These definitions help us understand the importance of successful language learning. When people acquire their first language, they do not do so because they are taught it. Their learning is an incidental effect of their participation in family life, and the language skills they develop and the concepts they master reflect the social practices of their immediate environment. Similarly, adults are said to acquire a second language “naturally” when they do so by living with speakers of the language and interacting with them on a daily basis. Their new communicative repertoire is not formed by a conscious learning method, but by their attempts to satisfy their social and material needs.
When adult immigrants participate in a course in the language of their host community, their goal is to acquire a particular level of proficiency. Intentional learning is often accompanied by incidental learning; and the effects of incidental learning in formal educational contexts are reinforced by informal and non-formal learning in the outside world. Adult immigrants’ proficiency in the language of the host community is enhanced when they have the opportunity to interact informally with other speakers of the language.
To ensure that learners in language courses have opportunities to use the language outside the classroom and benefit from informal learning, managers should organise cultural visits and social activities.
Rather than organising formal language courses, for example, on a short-term basis, it makes much more sense, and is certainly more affordable, to involve volunteers in organising social activities that promote non-formal and informal language learning. If properly designed and efficiently carried out, these activities can provide immigrant learners with a solid foundation for participation in formal language courses at a later stage, if deemed desirable or necessary.
The advantages of ICT-based language teaching and learning include:
- A variety of informational and instructional media where we can group oral and written activities, illustrations, and animated situations.
- Consultation facilities such as interactive dictionaries, communication texts and others.
- Diversity of techniques and methods such as information gaps, information transfer, puzzles, multiple choice, crossword puzzles, etc.
- Compatibility and complementarity with conventional classroom teaching with a teacher.
- Freedom of timetable.
- Personal choice of level where the student determines his or her progress.
The following websites are free of charge and can be useful in the classroom for teaching another language.
| Genially | It is a digital authoring tool that can be used to design and share multimedia creations and presentations. It offers blank pages or pre-designed layouts, such as videos, infographics, quizzes and more. |
| Canva | Is a graphic design platform that allows you to design invitations, business cards, brochures, lesson plans, backgrounds and much more using professionally designed templates? |
| Prezi | Is a website that allows users to create a presentation using a map-like layout. They can zoom in and out of different elements and show the relationships between them. |
| Mind map | It is a website for creating concept maps that are useful for learning foreign languages to explain, for example, the formation of words or sentences. On this site you can also create maps for free using other templates or from a blank page. |
| HelloTalk | Is a mobile application that allows language exchange. It is free and easy to use. With it you can communicate and practice any kind of language you want to learn. The app offers a system with which you can translate, learn grammar and pronunciation. You can also make video calls and send voice or text messages, as well as exchange photos. |
| Duolingo | Duolingo is another app that you can use on your computer as well as on your Android or iOS device. It includes a wide variety of languages. It contains various exercises that will teach you the pronunciation and spelling of words. Best of all, you learn with pictures and games. |
| Kahoot | It is a game-based learning platform used as an educational technology. Its learning games are user-generated multiple-choice or true/false quizzes and more. It can be used to review students’ knowledge, for formative assessment or as a break from traditional classroom activities. Kahoot also includes quizzes. |
| Quizizz | It is a free tool that works on any device. You can access hundreds of ready-made learning quizzes or create your own. |
| Quizlet | It is a free website that provides learning tools for students, including flashcards, study modes and games. You start by creating your own study sets with terms and definitions. You can copy and paste from another source or use Quizlet’s auto-definition feature to speed up the creation process. |
| Google Form | Is a free online software that allows you to create surveys and questionnaires. It is part of Google’s suite of web applications, which includes Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides, among others. |
Some of the challenges educators may face in establishing an inclusive environment include:
- Lack of experience
- Lack of the ability to create activities that are inclusive of all learners.
- Not having sufficient resources or support from teachers.
- Difficulty making all learners aware of the concept of inclusion and diversity.
- Lack of resources to address individual needs.
Overcoming obstacles:
- Training
As professionals, you need to be informed about how to create inclusive classrooms. To find out what training is available, you can ask the management team, or you can look it up on the internet yourself. There are also many free courses available on the internet.
It is also important, if you are going to teach students from other countries, to be familiar with the culture and history of the country. It is not necessary to be able to speak the language but knowing the grammar can help you understand their mistakes.
- Resources
If you search online, there are many resources available online and websites where teachers post their work.
- Awareness
Raise awareness of the benefits of inclusive education not only for immigrants or people with disabilities, but for the whole community.
