NEA GERMANIKA Breaks Down Language Barriers to Europe
The communicative approach, which focuses on actively practising communication, is the most popular method in modern foreign language teaching. It has proven effective around the world and is used at the NEA GERMANIKA Language Centre in Kardzhali.
“The main aim of the communicative approach is to help you overcome your fear of communicating and remove what is known as the language barrier.” This was explained by Svetla Zhelyazkova, manager and German language teacher at the centre.
Learners need to believe that, after initially building a vocabulary of 600-1000 words and acquiring the essential basic grammar knowledge, they can easily make themselves understood and communicate in a foreign language. Of course, this is only the beginning of a long journey towards improving language skills, according to the centre’s specialists.
Modern teaching methods involve immersing learners as fully as possible in the learning environment. This is achieved primarily by minimising the use of the native language during lessons. The main goal is for learners to start expressing themselves freely in the foreign language and eventually to think in it as well.
“Another very important feature of teaching at NEA GERMANIKA is that mechanical repetition of lessons and exercises has been reduced to a minimum. It has been replaced by role-playing activities, pair work, error-spotting tasks, comparisons and contrast exercises. These activities engage not only memory but also logic, as well as the ability to think both creatively and analytically,” says Svetla Zhelyazkova.
Modern foreign language teaching focuses on developing the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Particular emphasis is placed on using audio, video and interactive resources. At the NEA GERMANIKA Language Centre, audiovisual materials and interactive resources are an essential part of the learning process. “Nowadays, foreign language teaching has become much more practical and is quite different from the traditional approach, which is now somewhat outdated and focused mainly on theory and grammar rules. The teacher’s role in the learning process has changed significantly,” says Svetla Zhelyazkova. “The traditional teacher is not able to give learners freedom of choice or provide the ‘freedom to learn’, which is so important when acquiring a foreign language. Today’s teacher is an observer, a helper, a mediator and only then a leader. Although, at first glance, this may seem to put the teacher’s personality in the background, their influence on the class actually grows,” she adds.
“If you want to learn the foreign language you need more easily and effectively, come and join us. Here at NEA GERMANIKA, we know how to help you, and we have the skills to do so,” advises Svetla Zhelyazkova.
