Education of the republic of uzbekistan termiz state university department of english language and literature

Teaching through visuals and activities
It is widely known that visuals are means of knowing the world that is older than linguistic symbolism. In terms of language learning, apart from VYL most of the learners are keen on learning visually and spatially. In teaching any topic, teachers feel that the topic should be supported visually; through big colorful pictures, posters, drawings or flashcards, puppets, toys and real objects or by dramatising the meaning through mime, facial expression or gestures. The benefits of the use of visuals in classroom are countless since pupils learn best by seeing and doing.

First of all, flashcards are simple, versatile, yet often underexploited

resources. Flash cards are really handy resource to have and can be useful

at every stage of the class. They are a great way to present, practise and

recycle vocabulary. For children at the early reading age, flash cards can

be used in conjuction with word cards. These are simply cards that display

the written word. Word cards should be introduced well after the pictorial

cards so as not to interfere with correct pronunciation.

YL love to be entertained with puppets. As a teacher, you should select

and create a personality for a particular puppet. For example, choose a

puppet with a large head and facial features that will portray a commanding

character, someone the kids can look up to and respect. The use of puppets

in the early childhood classroom can be used for teaching proper behavior

and making good choices. YL are also entertained with puppets.

Teachers can present the stories in different ways. Firstly, they read it

out loud, play it on a video/audiotape, show it in pictures only, etc.

Secondly, children can “read“ (look at) the book to themselves, then listen to the teacher reading it out load, or they can “read“ (look at) the book while they listen to a recording of it. Teachers use stories in the classroom because they can offer opportunities for repetition and use of language in activites. Stories also help teachers develop all four language skills, plus cognitive and developmental skill in their pupils, and above all, they are highly motivating for YL.

The use of various activities in the classroom to teach a foreign language has a great impact on learners. Particularly, YL would love to learn by means of activities as such kind of attempts encourage them to explore something, which is quite stimulating, motivating and interesting.

YL learn by doing, by being actively involved in their learning. It creates

opportunities for them to use their imagination and creativity.

There is a revised table of activities suggested by Thornton and Phillips

(2001) that could be applied in the classroom for YL.

- TPR activites

- Listen and do, listen and repeat, listen and draw...

- Find someone who is...

- Drawing, coloring in, cutting out, making things

- Playing games with masks, puppets, toys.

- Flashcards

- Labelling parts, sticking in pictures

- Mime and gesture

- Storytelling

- Songs