ACTIVE LEARNING AND ITS APPLICATION IN TEACHING ENGLISH

Abstract

This article provides an overview of active learning in the context of language teaching by answering research questions: How is the concept of active learning de?ned? What are the methods and strategies connected to active learning and what techniques can they be represented with? There are given suggestions how teachers can implement active learning techniques in their practice and what activities have proven effective in building language competence of author’s students. It also presents some ideas on the training material development for practitioners in the field of language teaching and course materials for learners, thus contributing to the existing knowledge base about utilizing active learning in the process of English language acquisition. It has been established that strategies which are based on ideas about how learners effectively acquire foreign language communicative competence assist the participants of educational process in transition into full engagement. Active learning helps students submerge into course material and results in learning, applying, synthesizing, summarizing and evaluating the content. The types of activities, which the teacher implements, are of paramount importance as they determine the level and type of students' learning and are chosen or designed in order to reach lesson objectives. They span from uncomplicated ones to activities of increased complexity and include Concept Mapping, Think / Pair / Share technique, Cooperative Groups in Class, Note Check or Note Comparison, Minute Papers, If You Could Ask One Question, Discussions, etc. The study also tackles barriers and obstacles which can occur on the path of incorporating active learning strategies in teaching and mastering English as a foreign language as well as recommendations on their overcoming.