Innovation in Language Learning
Principles of Compelling Communication in Language Teaching
Inga Vyšniauskienė, Organisation “Lingua, English Boutique for Business Leaders” (Lithuania)
Abstract
Why do some of my lessons keep learners engaged for hours, while others work better than sleeping pills? I’ve been looking for an answer for over 15 years of my teaching career. I may have found one. Could the main principles of compelling communication be a means to hook our learners, keep them focused, and, at the end of the lesson, leave them with knowledge as well as skills?
The three principles, which empower teachers and learners, include aesthetic simplicity, storytelling and authenticity. First, to protect learners from cognitive overload, complicated topics need to be presented in a simple way. Textual explanations may be replaced with visual associations, be presented in manageable chunks rather than extended tables and, most importantly, follow the principle of the Inverted Pyramid. Obvious as it may seem, I have often witnessed teachers overlook the principle of simplicity. Second, given that we tend to remember facts better if they are wrapped
around a story, the power of strategic storytelling should not be forgotten. I will invite the audience to listen to a story as a means of teaching conditional clauses in English. Third, no matter how wellorganised and polished our materials are, they will only be powerful if paired with our authenticity. By
sharing my journey of authenticity, I will invite the audience to consider – where does Your authenticity lie? Only when the first two principles and teacher’s authenticity are in harmony can we produce the
perfect triumph of a memorable lesson.
Keywords: authenticity; English language teaching; simplicity; storytelling
