Four Key Elements that Revitalize Your Teaching

　 School reform has been the main focus of discussion among educators for a number of years.

　　The truth is that schools, as well as society, are facing many problems which are not unique to them. Nevertheless, the fact remains that when a teacher and his/her students face each other in the classroom they must truly work with each other. They have to connect with each other. This is the only way in which they will be able to understand and use the information given in the classroom. I feel that there are four courses of action that could make the classroom a better place in which students, and many times the teacher, really learn.

　　The following four courses of action I call keys because they are the tools that could open certain areas which, if not addressed, may result in the institutionalization of many of the problem that plague our schools today.

　　Key Number One　　Renew and refresh your knowledg of the subject matter.

　　How?

　　Read new information to maintain currency in your field. You can gain different ideas from different areas and incorporate them in your lessons, resulting in greater understanding of the world at large. Above all, talk to your colleagues. Many students today do not understand the fact that " learning is its own reward" . It is important for the teacher to be so imbued with delight in the subject matter that students will see its value in every activity.

　　Our world is changing so rapidly that many times knowledge of the subject matter is new and fresh for both students and teacher.Nothing can be more exciting than the teacher truly learning together with his or her class.

　　Key Number Two　　Prepare interesting, colorful captivating lesson plans and deliver them with gusto.There is nothing more boring than a lesson plan that has nothing to connect with the material.TV exemplifies the art of captivating the audience in the first 10 seconds or less.Use that technique.Adopt that approach and your students will be more interested in looking and listening.

　　A lesson plan should create a vibrant classroom environment in which learning is not only possible, but also fun and exciting. Many times this key may be achieved by using something that the student does not see as a real lesson. One example is games in which the students think that they are not doing serious work, but that they are going to win something or that they are in competition. This is a pivotal key for promoting good feelings, which is one of the greatest aspects of learning.

　　Key Number Three　　In your lesson plan, make it a number one priority to ensure that your student can follow the lesson. In this area one must also remember those students whose mastery of the English language is not as complete as that in the rest of the class. Leave no stone unturned to make sure that you reach your students——all of them! Above all, teachers should always be fair and treat their students with respect both in and out of the classroom. There, at times, we let our negative feelings about students be known and, thereby, become general knowledge of the whole faculty. This can be very damaging to the student's reputation.

　　Key Number Four　　Help your students to put their learning to use immediately. In the ensuing weeks and months, show them the connection between classroom subject and life in general. When practical, encourage students to teach someone else what they themselves have learned. Show them that schools are not isolated from the world.

　　This can also be practiced in the classroom using the techniques of cooperative learning in which the teacher pairs students by ability, by mastery, and by understanding of the lesson delivered in the classroom.

使教学充满活力的四把钥匙

教学改革多年来一直是教育工作者探讨的主要课题。

　　事实是学校和社会都面临许多问题，这些问题带有普遍性。不过，当教师在教室里面对学生时，他们必须真诚合作。他们必须相互沟通，这是学生能够理解和运用所教知识的惟一途径。我认为可做四件事，使课堂成为能真正学到东西的地方，这不仅指学生而言，也包括教师在内。

　　这四种方法，我称之为"钥匙"，是因为它们能打开某些领域。这些领域如不处理，会使现今困扰学校的许多问题无法得到解决。

　　第一把钥匙　所教科目需更新知识。

　　怎样才能做到?

　　通过阅读使你在专业领域里保持信息流通。从不同的领域中得到不同的想法，把它们融入到你的课程中去，从而达到对世界更多的理解。尤为重要的是要与你的同事们交谈。现在许多学生不明白"学习本身就是回报"。因而，教师对他所教科目要有兴趣，使学生在每项活动中都体会其价值，这一点很重要。

　　世界正发生日新月异的变化，就所教科目来说，常常会出现教师和学生所陌生的全新知识。教师如真正做到与班上学生一起学习，那将是世上最令人兴奋的事情了。

　　第二把钥匙　要把课准备得生动有趣、丰富多彩，讲课要讲得津津有味。与教材毫无联系的教学计划讲起来最令人索然寡味。电视能在10秒钟或更短的时间里就把观众吸引住，这是教师可以借鉴的。仿效电视吸引观众的方式，你的学生就会更有兴趣地注视并聆听你所授的课程。

　　教学计划应该创造一种活跃的课堂气氛，不仅使学生学得下去，而且觉得既有趣又令人兴奋。关键在于使用的方法让学生不觉得是在上课。例如把上课编排得像是做游戏。这样学生们就不觉得是在做一件严肃的事，而是在争取赢得某种东西或是进行一场比赛。这是增进师生感情的关键，而良好的师生感情是学习的一个重要方面。

　　第三把钥匙　在你的教学计划中，首要任务是确保你的学生能够跟得上。在这方面，教师必须考虑班上有一部分学生的英语水平不及其他同学。要确保你能顾及到你所有的学生，要面面俱到。最重要的是，不论在课内还是课外，教师都应始终公平对待学生，并尊重他们。我们有时在教员休息室随便议论学生的缺点，以至于让其他教员也知道。这会对该学生的名誉造成很大损害。

　　第四把钥匙　帮助你的学生学以致用，立竿见影。在随后的几个星期或几个月，你应教给他们把课堂所学和现实生活联系上。如果可能，鼓励学生把所学知识教给他人。要向他们表明学校不是孤立于世界之外的地方。

　　在教室里同样可以实践所学知识，教师根据学生的能力、掌握知识的程度以及对所授课程的理解，将学生配成对，通过合作学习的方法来进行实践。

By H.G. Cadenas