Making Meaning Clear

This lesson taught me effective language teaching techniques, focusing on two key theories:

1. Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development
   • Identifies three learning zones:
     • What learners can already do
     • What they cannot do
     • What they can do with teacher guidance (the “sweet spot”)
2. Krashen’s Input Hypothesis
   • Describes optimal learning levels:
     • i+1: Perfect learning level (challenging but achievable)
     • i+10: Too difficult (causes frustration)
     • i+0: Too easy (results in boredom)

The text emphasizes the importance of teaching in the “sweet spot”, providing material that’s just challenging enough to promote learning while remaining accessible. It also introduces body language as a crucial teaching technique, noting that up to 80% of classroom communication can be non-verbal.

You’re a smart Banana! *sticks gold star on your forehead*