Trying to learn a new language can be tough, but being multilingual is a critical skill that's highly valued in today's global workforce. Of course, that doesn't make learning English or any other language any easier. This is why so much time and research have been invested into the concept of learning a second language, and one technique that shows great potential is that of phenomenon-based learning.
Phenomenon-based learning is a multidisciplinary and learner-focused approach to teaching. It's based largely on a student's problem-solving abilities and inquiries. Phenomenon-based learning may often have a theme but doesn't look to teach any specific subject, rather it enables students to find and answer questions they themselves find interesting, exploring whatever information and subjects may be relevant.
All of that said, the overall goal of phenomenon-based learning is to prepare students to be able to solve real-world problems. Since they'll need to explore a variety of subjects to answer a given question, and look at the information available to them from multiple perspectives, phenomenon-based learning is one of the most balanced ways to teach any subject--language included.
Applying phenomenon-based learning gives real-world context for language, which is exactly what ESL students need to get a working grasp of English and its many nuances.
Examples of Phenomenon-Based Learning
Here at Edyssey, we use phenomenon-based learning in many of our courses to help keep students engaged as they explore subjects that are exciting and meaningful to them, all while learning proper use of the English language.
Some of our courses include:
● English for critical thinkers
● English for personal development
● English for political Junkies
● English for football fans
● English for wellbeing
● English through life coaching
Beyond these courses, we also offer subjects related to music, integration, and more. Many of these courses use the constructs of phenomenon-based learning to frame English within real-world contexts, helping learners quickly make connections between words and meanings.
Is Phenomenon-Based Learning Right for You?
Phenomenon-based learning has been proven effective for a variety of learners, regardless of their learning style. Since phenomenon-based learning perfectly aligns with the way we as humans learn to speak as infants, by connecting ideas to words, it drastically speeds up the learning process and helps get students actually coherently speaking a language much faster.
Plus, as an added benefit of phenomenon-based learning, you'll get to explore subjects that are meaningful and interesting to you while you work on your language skills. That's why the approach of phenomenon-based learning is so highly acclaimed. It will help you advance your knowledge in multiple ways all while speeding up the process of understanding and, ultimately, mastering English.