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Name: Caleb Gattegno
Born: 1911, Alexandria, Egypt
Died: 1988, Paris, France
Profession: Educator, Mathematician, and Linguist
Caleb Gattegno was a prominent figure in the field of education, known for his innovative approaches to teaching languages and mathematics. He studied mathematics and physics before dedicating his life to education. His experiences in various educational systems around the world greatly influenced his pedagogical theories.
Gattegno is best known for developing the Silent Way, a teaching method that emphasizes learner autonomy and discovery. This method encourages students to take responsibility for their learning, using visual aids and manipulatives while minimizing teacher talk. His approach contrasts with traditional methods by focusing on the learner's active participation and problem-solving skills.
Caleb Categno
Elements in the Silent Way
Elements in the Silent Way
FADEL. A crucial element in the Silent Way
FADEL. A crucial element in the Silent Way
In the context of the Silent Way, a "fadel" refers to a specific type of visual aid or material used to facilitate language learning. The term itself is derived from the French word "fadel," which means "to fade." Fadels are designed to help learners visualize and understand language concepts without relying heavily on verbal explanations from the teacher.
RODS. Realia in the Silent Way
RODS. Realia in the Silent Way
In the Silent Way, rods are colorful, tactile manipulatives used to represent linguistic concepts and facilitate language learning. These rods come in various lengths and colors, allowing learners to visualize relationships between words, phrases, and grammatical structures. By physically manipulating the rods, students can explore language patterns and develop a deeper understanding of syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The visual and kinesthetic aspects of using rods cater to different learning styles, making the language acquisition process more engaging and effective.
The rods also serve as a powerful tool for fostering learner autonomy. Instructors encourage students to use the rods to express ideas, create sentences, or demonstrate understanding, promoting active participation in their learning journey. This hands-on approach minimizes teacher talk, aligning with the Silent Way's emphasis on learner-centered education. As students interact with the rods, they gain confidence in their language abilities, reinforcing the idea that language learning is a dynamic and collaborative process.
What is the Silent Way?
What is the Silent Way?
This unconventional method was developed alongside Afro hairstyles and platform shoes back in the 1970s by mathematician (yes, we said mathematician) Caleb Gattegno. It was based upon ideas outlined in his book “Teaching Foreign Languages in Schools the Silent Way,” published in 1963. Like most cultural events of the 60s and 70s, it was a reaction to previous approaches and methods that were considered excessively rigid and constricting.
The basic method that underlies this approach is simple but potentially quite powerful: In contrast to traditional methods, the emphasis is on the student’s learning rather than the teacher’s teaching. In fact, it is not uncommon for the teacher to remain silent for parts of a lesson.
In the absence of the teacher dominating the lesson, the student takes an active role in the learning process, and their input guides the learning trajectory. The teacher redirects and corrects when necessary, but the teacher grants students greater autonomy and fosters the development of independent problem-solving skills.
The role of the teacher is to direct students’ focus, facilitate self-reflection and provide verbal and nonverbal feedback when necessary. Students, on the other hand, are encouraged to speak as much as possible.
Most of the traditional tools for language instruction (textbooks, worksheets, verb conjugation tables) are completely absent from this method. In their place, instruction takes place through the medium of Cuisenaire rods (colored rods traditionally used in the teaching of math to primary school students) and charts that indicate the correct pronunciation of certain letters without the teacher having to teach pronunciation through rote memorization or call-and-response exercises.
Why might you decide to use the Silent Way method?
Why might you decide to use the Silent Way method?
We know how you feel. Teaching a language with silence? How could that possibly work?
Don’t be too quick to judge. There are plenty of great reasons to at least give this method a try.
Student-directed learning. We all know what the research says: Students learn better when they can be active participants in their own learning. It just seems logical that, when it comes to language, allowing students to do all the talking is the best way to accomplish that.
Improved problem-solving skills. Without your input, students are forced to figure out all kinds of things on their own, mimicking some of the real-life problem-solving situations they might find themselves facing if immersed in the target language. These are skills that they will not have the opportunity to develop if the teacher always does the figuring out for them.
Increased engagement. Learning basic vocabulary and pronunciation can often feel monotonous to students. With the Silent Way, students are engaged in the learning process, discovering words and sounds instead of having these drilled into them. Students become more engaged and invested in the process as they assume more responsibility for their own learning, and tasks have more relevance.
A positive, safe learning environment. Limited input from the teacher means almost no criticism… which means students feel that it is safe to make mistakes, a necessary step in language learning.
It can supplement further student-centered work. Including the above features in your students’ learning will complement deeper interactive and independent work with the language.
Source: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator/silent-way-teaching-method/
Student-directed learning. We all know what the research says: Students learn better when they can be active participants in their own learning. It just seems logical that, when it comes to language, allowing students to do all the talking is the best way to accomplish that.
Improved problem-solving skills. Without your input, students are forced to figure out all kinds of things on their own, mimicking some of the real-life problem-solving situations they might find themselves facing if immersed in the target language. These are skills that they will not have the opportunity to develop if the teacher always does the figuring out for them.
Increased engagement. Learning basic vocabulary and pronunciation can often feel monotonous to students. With the Silent Way, students are engaged in the learning process, discovering words and sounds instead of having these drilled into them. Students become more engaged and invested in the process as they assume more responsibility for their own learning, and tasks have more relevance.
A positive, safe learning environment. Limited input from the teacher means almost no criticism… which means students feel that it is safe to make mistakes, a necessary step in language learning.
It can supplement further student-centered work. Including the above features in your students’ learning will complement deeper interactive and independent work with the language.
As you can probably imagine, though, the Silent Way is not without its drawbacks.
Potential problems with the Silent Way
Potential problems with the Silent Way
The Silent Way is not for everyone. Here are some valid reasons for deciding not to use it.
It may feel strange and scary to some students. It is safe to say that your students have never experienced anything quite like the Silent Way before. Without adequate explanation or preparation, they might be unsure of how to handle it, especially in the beginning.
It may be challenging for some students. If a student has an IEP, or requires extra coaching or scaffolding due to special needs of any kind, they can really struggle with the Silent Way. These students need frequent interactions with their teacher in order to be successful.
Students may feel that they are not getting enough feedback. While traditional teaching methods make extensive use of verbal and written feedback, the Silent Way does not. This means that students will have to adjust to the new way of receiving feedback, and they may feel insecure about the lack of verbal positive or negative reinforcement in the beginning.
Progress may look different than with other methods. Advocates of the Silent Way will tell you that the focus is on learning a few things well rather than “covering” the material, but the Silent Way aims for quality rather than quantity. In other words, it may feel like students spend a lot of time learning the basics of vocabulary and pronunciation rather than progressing quickly through these topics, but remember that learning a language means developing many skills simultaneously. In fact, some skills such as accurate pronunciation may take years to master.
Strategies to make the Silent Way work for you and your students
Strategies to make the Silent Way work for you and your students
If you do decide to use this method, here are some strategies to help you find success.
Educate students thoroughly from the outset about this method and why you are using it. Once you have achieved student buy-in, you can begin implementing this method without fear of scaring them away.
Check in individually with students who need it from time to time, to make sure that they are okay. You can schedule regular meeting times with them, or check in discreetly during class. This will help them feel more confident about their progress.
Give feedback non-verbally. Practice conveying a message with body language, gestures and facial expressions. You will be amazed at how much you can communicate to students without saying a word.
Emphasize quality rather than quantity. Clearly articulate that attaining mastery, rather than simply covering everything in the curriculum, is the priority.
Now that you understand the basics of the Silent Way and how it works, let’s begin to put it into practice with an actual activity.
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