Learning language the Karadi way

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Learning-language-the-Karadi-way/articleshow/5301832.cms

BANGALORE: A new look and thought have been given to Indian education in recent times. And Karadi Tales is seeing major implications in pedagogy here.

On Friday, C P Viswanath, director of Karadi Tales, held a workshop in Bangalore with English-language teachers from various schools on `Science of Language Learning and Karadi Path'.

Viswanath said: "There is an increasing demand for change in education. We haven't worked out a pedagogy, but contextualised everything which can make the current system more beneficial for learners. The Karadi Path is just one way to make learning language entertaining, rather than following a strict curriculum."

If India's approach to Western education had been effective, he replied: "Western education has failed; the approach to learning language is completely wrong. This tragedy has been passed on to schools in India. You never need to learn a language for the purpose of expressing your thoughts for nine years __ one year is enough. Karadi Path involves only one year and that too for children of Classes one to five."

Karadi Path has three modules -- action path, music path and story path. These approaches use the intuitive processes of the brain and there is no assessment or test, which is why children learn the language with ease as if it were their mother tongue.

He also added: "A child picks up his mother tongue easily, and children who grow up in a multilingual environment pick up all local languages, yet schools take pains to teach language for years together. In a majority of English medium schools in Karnataka, students learn all their subjects in English without achieving proficiency in it, which is why even when they know the answer to a science question, they can't give the answer in English."

Viswanath said as a first step to enter schools in Karnataka, they will take up not more than 100 schools.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 135 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

9 Ways to Use Recipes for Foreign Language Learning

Ways to Use Recipes for Foreign Language Learning

“What to do?” “What to do?”

English as a foreign language and foreign language teachers are often in a quandary for simple but effective class room activities. You and your foreign language learners have to eat don’t you? Well, to help get you started, briefly here are some useful ways to use recipes for foreign language learning you might want to consider and a brief look at each:

• Making a recipe preparation video

If there was ever a great way to incorporate multiple intelligences and application of multi-media into foreign language learning, then this is it. You guide your foreign language learners in preparing a short step-by-step video of preparing a simple recipe.

• Creating a recipe poster with images

For a much more low-tech approach, why not consider having your foreign language learners make a poster showing how a simple recipe is prepared. They can include pictures of the preparation process and the finished recipe too.

• Narrating a recipe preparation

This is yet another particularly simple-to-apply method for using recipes for foreign language learning. Foreign language learners just narrate the process into a microphone, recording the recipe preparation process as a sound file into a cassette recorder, PC or laptop computer.

• Writing out a new recipe in different ways

The foreign language teacher can dictate a simple recipe for the foreign language learners to write down. The finished, corrected version can then be posted in the class room or online. Dictation addresses the foreign language learners’ writing ability as well as their listening comprehension skills.

• Shooting digital images of a recipe in preparation

To get a good series of images for preparing a recipe, foreign language learners absolutely must understand the preparation steps and how ingredients are combined. Photographing the recipe preparation process will help organize the steps and process in their minds as well as provide them with picture image “manipulatives” or realia they can physically handle or manipulate during the organization process.

• Focusing on the use of a particular ingredient in the preparation of different recipes

Take a commonly used ingredient like onions or tomatoes and ask your foreign language learners about other recipes which use that particular ingredient. Can you make juice, pastries or desserts with it? How about soup or salad?

• Preparation of simple, basic recipes in class

Foreign language learners just love this one. You have them select and prepare a very simple, basic recipe in class while explaining the process aloud. The recipe need not be anything fancy or special – just edible.

• Having English language learners bring prepared dishes to class and explain their ingredients and preparation

This is yet another variation on simple recipe preparation. Foreign language learners being basic ingredients to class, then prepare their offering for all to sample. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hot dogs or a cookie sandwich hors d’oeuvres will do the trick nicely.

• Posting videos, narrations and written recipes online

Another concept which might be considered or included is to post the foreign language learners’ recipes online. It could be on the school blog, in the school newspaper or as an article posting online at any of the hundreds of free article banks online. You choose, but choose wisely, grasshopper.

Ways to Use Recipes for Foreign Language Learning

So there you have it, nine ways to use recipes and their ingredients for English as a foreign language or other foreign language learning. Why not choose one or two and put them to the best use in your foreign language learning class room soon?


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 135 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

An Unusual Recipe from Colombia: Cow’s Eye Soup

Teach English as a Foreign Language Abroad

One of the benefits of teaching English as a foreign language abroad or living abroad in general, is the ability to prepare or at least try out some unusual recipes and foreign dishes you might never experience at home. Why else would one venture thousands of miles from home, brave storms, earthquakes, the elements and lord-only-knows-what else to teach English as a foreign language abroad? Okay, maybe for love (more than one English language teacher has married a foreign national or a stent), money or experience in one way or another. Nonetheless, you’ll still need to eat though, right?

Not in Colombia? How to Get Cow’s Eyes

First, truck your bunnies over to your local butcher and request from two to four cow’s eyes. I seriously doubt your supermarket ever carries them but a good butcher can get them for you if they are not readily available at a farmer’s market.

From these Colombian cooks can whip up a savory stew or soup dish for an unforgettable lunch.

Here’s a recipe on how you might go about it yourself:

Colombian Recipe for Cow’s Eye Soup

First, rinse the fresh cow’s eyes under running cold water

Then, place them in a pot or pressure cooker with lightly salted water

Next, add chopped onion, oregano and spices or your preferred spice bundle to taste as desired

After that, pressure cook for about 30 minutes or until the eyes are well softened

Finally, take out the cooked cow’s eyes when done

Colombia: Cow’s Eye Soup Stock Recipe

Add two or three diced yellow potatoes, two large white potatoes, one grated or chopped carrot and fined minced or grated arracacha to the cow’s eye liquid stock
Add in a coarsely diced Yucca as well, if available
Simmer the stock for about twenty more minutes or until vegetables are cooked and soft.

In a Separate Pan

In a separate pan, sautee together a small chopped onion, a whole scallion, 2 cloves of crushed garlic and a large chopped or grated tomato in a little oil until softened

Now dice the cooked cow’s eyes and add these to the sautéed mixture
Sautee for an additional few minutes until flavors are melded together
Everything should now be ready to serve

The final dish is often served with white rice, freshly made fruit juice and the enriched cow’s eye stock in a bowl on the side.

Teach English Vocabulary

Why a Colombian food recipe on this blog? Well, food and drink recipes are an excellent way to teach vocabulary in English as a foreign language. There are the action verbs, words used to express a sequence of events, and of course, vocabulary of food, seasoning and drink ingredients which may or may not be familiar to your English language learners – or you at first, for that matter. So, go ahead and pull out or request some favorite food or drink recipes from your co-workers, English as a foreign language learners, friends, neighbors or staff and get busy.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 135 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.