The Advantages of Using the Flipped Classroom Model in the EFL Classroom in Nicaragua
Quoting Nelson Mandela, ¨Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world¨. Education is a never-ending process that requires constant learning, updating and guidance; much like technology which evolves very quickly trying to adjust to the everyday needs of the individuals all over the world. In the recent years, technology and education have tighten the knot to enhance learning and reach all learning styles; and enrich the teaching quality with great technologically developed teaching tools to ensure class success. Nicaraguan English Teaching institutions, though in a developing country, have made great efforts to keep up to date with the new teaching methodologies in the field including the integration of technology. Now the trend in Education refers to a new model and the English Teaching Institutions do not want to fall behind. Therefore, ELT in Nicaragua with the predilection of blended learning has to integrate technology to the classroom as a necessary tool for English teaching. For this reason, The Flipped classroom model, the new trend in teaching, offers a great advantage to EFL learners to engage in more collaborative tasks, become independent learners and use technology positively in and outside the classroom to acquire the language more naturally.
According to Deb Weitzenkamp in her article Bloom and the Flipped classroom, the theoretical framework behind the flipped classroom is that it is ¨a pedagogical concept where the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed¨. In the flipped classroom model the teacher posts videos of the class content and learners watch them as many times as t...
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...s become a great opportunity for employment.
In conclusion, technology, a highly motivated teacher, a highly engaged learner, and a well prepared flipped language class, can make the Flipped Classroom model work for the greater good of the EFL setting in Nicaragua. The best choice: better English proficiency in its learners, technology skills embracement and enhancement its students’ success will make the blended learning model a win-win situation.
Works Cited
• http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/591452/relo/030612_english_roundtable.pdf. Web. 5 December 2013.
• WeitzenCamp, Deb. ¨Bloom and the flipped classroom.¨ Nextgenerationextension.org 01 Oct. 2013. Web 6 Dec 2013.
• Sarah Butrymowicz. ¨Can the Flipped Classroom Benefit Low-Income Students?¨ blogs.kqed.org 1 Jun 2012. Web Dec 4, 2013.
• http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/ Web. Dec. 2, 2013
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