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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Montessori Education

Date of Publication

07/02/2012

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Teacher Education

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

Hungarian

Language of Instruction

Hungarian

CEFR level

B2

Type of Material

Video

Linguistic Features

Pragmatics

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing

Description

This teaching resource is a 9-minute-long video introducing a Montessori kindergarten in Budapest as well as the main characteristics of the Montessori method. The video made by a district TV channel is optimal for upper-intermediate learners of Hungarian who are specialized in Teacher Education. It can be used to improve their vocabulary in the related field and develop their listening skills, as the visual content in the video facilitates understanding. Also, this short film can provide an opportunity for students to practice their oral skills. At the same time, students can gain useful and practical information about the method itself and its key elements. By adding subtitles, the video may be ideal for learners at B1+ level. This resource allows lecturers to use a motivating teaching material in the classroom.

Case study

The resource can be tested in classroom context. Students are asked to do the activities recommended in the guidelines section. After this, they can be tested on their knowledge about Montessori Education and the vocabulary related to the topic to check the efficiency of the online video and the related tasks. Also, a questionnaire can be designed so that the students who are participating in the project can give feedback on the short film and the related activities: Did they consider them useful, interesting and motivating? Do they think that they suit their needs? Do they have any ideas or suggestions for improvement?

Guidelines

Led-in-activity/warmer: the teacher attempts to activate the students’ background knowledge about Montessori Education
Step 1: Pre-listening activity. The teacher discusses and explains the expressions and words in the video that the students may not be familiar with. Students are given worksheets containing questions, or true or false statements, etc. They read them carefully.
Step 2: Listening activity. Students do the given listening task. The teacher has to make sure that the students can hear everything without any interferences. If necessary, they can watch the video twice.
Step 3: Post-listening activity. The answers are discussed and explained while practicing speaking skills. If necessary, the relevant parts can be watched again to clarify misunderstandings.
Step 4: Open discussion. The students have the opportunity to express their own ideas, opinions orally and they can write a comparative essay about traditional kindergartens and Montessori kindergartens based on this discussion.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

5

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

5

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

5

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

5

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

2

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

4

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

4

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
Using online videos is highly effective, innovative in nature and popular among language teachers and language learners as well. It does not require much preparation while most students find carefully selected authentic short films motivating and interesting. The length of the video presented above can help to keep learners focussed on the content and the given tasks. It contains many technical vocabulary items and gives insights into the everyday life of a Montessori kindergarten, so students can benefit a lot from it. It might be challenging to apply this particular resource in different countries as it is in Hungarian – unless it is dubbed or subtitled. Adding subtitles to the film and asking simpler questions can make it possible to use this material with students whose Hungarian is at B1+ level. Assessment can be aimed at the vocabulary, the topic itself (i.e. what students have learnt about the Montessori method), the comparative essay or their oral performance in the open discussion. The present teaching resource is accessible on the Internet and can be downloaded easily.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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