LANGUAGE THEORY Languages of the world share a number of features (e.g.

every language uses subject, object; every language has adjective, adverb, verb ...etc.) However each language is unique. Language is for self expression (to express thoughts, perceptions, ideas and feelings). "Cognitive Coding" helps learners learn the language. "Colour rods" and "Fidel Chart" are used for cognitive coding.

TEACHERS' ROLE The teacher is a technician or an engineer who facilitates learning. Only the learner can do learning. The teacher is aware of what the students already know and he/she can decide the next step. The teacher is silent. Silence is a tool because teacher's silence gives the responsibility to the student. Besides teacher's silence helps students monitor themselves and improve their own inner criteria.

STUDENTS' ROLE Students should make use of what they already know. They are responsible for their own learning. They actively take part in exploring the language. The teacher works with the students and the students work on the language. St-st interaction is important. Sts can learn from each other.

TECHNIQUES
1. Teaching pronunciation with "sound colour charts" 2. Cognitive coding with colour rods. 3. Peer correction to improve co-operative manner. 4. Self correction gestures 5. Teacher's Silence 6. Structured feedback: Students are invited to talk about the day's instruction (what they have learnt that day during classes). Students learn to take responsibility for their own learning by becoming aware of themselves, and by controlling and applying their own learning strategies. 7. Fidel Charts: Used to teach sound spelling association. 8. Word Charts: Used to teach and recycle vocabulary. The words are written in different colours so that students can learn basic pronunciation patterns.

SOUND COLOUR CHARTS

FIDEL CHARTS

Getting together the "classic SW" prerequisite materials can take a lot of time and money there is the sound-color chart, 12 word charts each containing around 500 words, and 8 Fidel Charts for the English language alone.

EVALUATION The teacher may never give a formal test. He/she assesses students' learning all the time. Continuous monitoring by the teacher is essential.

THE SILENT WAY

originated in the early 1970s

by Caleb Gattegno The teacher's role is not to transmit knowledge To establish their own criteria for rightness

To become autonomous as learners and speakers of the language.

It is a unique method and the first of its kind to really concentrate on cognitive principles in language learning.

Learning is facilitated if the learner discovers or creates rather than remembers and repeats what is to be learned. Learning is facilitated by accompanying (mediating) physical objects. Learning is facilitated by problem solving involving the material to be learned.

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.

Benjamin Franklin

"teaching should be subordinated to learning"

"the teacher works with the student; the student works on the language"