Introduction
There is a variety of approaches in the modern education system’s courses. Teaching English as a second language is a complicated process, requiring teachers to be flexible and creative, providing explicit materials to their students. An eclectic approach is used to enhance learning and comprehension of the new language. The eclectic approach allows teachers to combine various methods, which helps students better perceive new material and learn a language faster.
Main Body
The development of global industries demands that people speak English fluently. The process of quick and quality learning of the English language is demanded. Foreign language communication improvement and improving students’ communicative competence are essential goals of a teacher (Richards & Rodgers, 2001). Different schools introduce efficient teaching methods for English as a second language.
One such approach is eclectic, which is a combination of various methods of teaching and learning techniques (Mwanza, 2019). The following principles characterize it: teachers can choose various teaching techniques in every stage of a class; the choice of method is flexible; students can see different kinds of techniques; the difficulties that emerge from materials can be solved (Mwanza, 2019).
The advantages of the eclectic approach are represented by cultural context presentation, listening, speaking, reading, and writing combination, and methods’ weaknesses avoidance (Mwanza, 2019). The disadvantages of the approach are all methods’ manners mixing, which may lead to various conflicts; the rationale of techniques is usually lost (Mwanza, 2019). The mentioned aspects involve advantages and disadvantages, but the approach remains a vital tool in the teaching process.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the eclectic approach used in the teaching of English as a second language is an integrated instrument for teachers, as well as for students. Being a combination of different efficient, robust, and sustainable characteristics, it shows the importance of the learning process. With its strengths of cultural context application, exercises combination, and methods advantages, a teacher can find a way to apply the approach sufficiently. However, the disadvantages are present, and the teaching process still requires an eclectic approach for students.
References
Mwanza, D.S. (2019). The eclectic approach to language teaching: Its conceptualization and misconceptions. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE), 4(2), 53–67. Web.
Richards, J.C. & Rodgers, T.S. (2001). Communicative language teaching. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. 153–177. Web.