Reception before production : a way to build up knowledge

Abstract EN

these days it seems to be getting more and more common to hear English teachers in, presumably, all around the world, talking about the need to be eclectic.

In other words, we select what we like and believe works from various methods and approaches and mix them together, hoping that we are teaching our students in the best possible way.

This growing belief in eclecticism apparently stems from the fact that no one method has been proved to be superior to all others in all teaching situations.

Of course there have been attempts to find a globally superior method.

The advantage of the multiplicity of methods and approaches from which we can now choose is that we have a large ‘bank’ of ideas to draw from.

But what is the best way to make eclecticism really work for us? Which parts from which methods and approaches should we choose and how should we organize them? Clearly, the first step is to think carefully about whom our learners are and what needs they have, and then; we can use our knowledge and experience to decide what we think will work best for them.