CELTA Online Unit 20: Addressing Difficulties

There are a number of solutions to the problems raised on the previous screen. In terms of the first
problem, when students feel they are not learning anything new, it is crucial that the teacher points out
the rationale of recycling language to students. Problems 2 and 3 can be related. Recycling language can
seem boring and repetitive if the practice activities, contexts and situations are repetitive. However,
there are ways around this problem.

There are a number of sources of different activity types and fresh situations and contexts through
which to recycle the language. These include:

a. Other coursebooks of the same level which practise the same language point
b. Other published ELT materials which deal with the same language point. These can include
workbooks (a homework and/or self-study book which often comes with the coursebook),
coursebook DVD ROMs, student self-study grammar and lexical books, and resource books
(additional photocopiable material for teachers, these are often part of the teacher’s book)
c. Reading and listening texts may well use the language so learners can revisit the language
through reading or listening activities
d. There are now a range of web sites where teachers can create a variety of practice activity
types. These websites allows teachers to type in the target language and then they will generate
an activity type which practises it. For example, after entering a lexical set (e.g. the home: living
room, bathroom, garden, kitchen) the web site will create a word search which contains that
lexis.
Examples of such web sites are:
o http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
o https://quizlet.com/
e. The teacher can be the source of recycling by personalising the language; for example, by
delivering a live listening about their life which includes the language.
f. The learners can be involved in creating the context for the language as well. This could be done
by giving the learners cards with language from previous lessons and students create a dialogue
or write a story using the language.