There are some elements of the Callan method that can be incorporated into various teaching styles. Some of the most important elements are question-answer exercises, revision, and encouraging students to make mistakes.

Question-answer exercise

The teacher should prepare structured open questions to students, related to a topic (vocabulary) and grammar rule they are covering.

Then, the teacher calls out each student and asks the question. The student is expected to give the answer in full, using the learned vocabulary and grammar. If the student struggles, the teacher feeds them the answer, guiding them and supporting them in the learning. 

BENEFITS of the activity:

1. Getting students to speak in the language they are learning, and being supported by the teacher, who, by correcting their mistakes, helps them learn the grammar, vocabulary, and correct pronunciation. 
2. Giving each student equal speaking time in the classroom.
3. Boosting students’ confidence.

Revision is key

Each class should start with revision of work from the previous class, and each class should finish with a revision of that day’s work. 

BENEFITS of the activity:

1. The more you repeat something, the easier it is to remember.
2. Students have more opportunity to learn. For example, if the first time they make a mistake in vocabulary, the second time in grammar, and the third time in pronunciation, by the fourth time they can perfect everything.

Making mistakes is encouraged

Mistakes are an essential part of learning, but fear of the unknown is engraved in us as human beings. In language learning, no matter how much we’ve studied or how well we know the grammar and vocabulary, we’re still scared to actually speak the language out loud.

With the Callan Method, the student is encouraged to make mistakes. In fact, it's their job to make mistakes, because teacher is there to guide them and to pick them up when they need help. They just need to build trust and let go of their fear of making mistakes. 

BENEFITS of the activity:

1. Letting go of control in students.
2. Fighting the fear of making mistakes.
3. Students who make mistakes in the group create a stronger bond with peers and teachers.

Find out seven reasons why the Callan method is the best method for learning English online.

CREATIVITY FOR INNOVATION

From the 13th to the 15th of October, we held our first international partner meeting.

The goal of our project is to learn how to use creative methods in working with adults. The core of the method includes three creative methods: reading, creative writing and storytelling.

Over the course of three days, we got to know our partners better as well as presented the goals, effects and the desired outcome of our project.

We were excited on the first day as it usually happens. We didn’t know what to expect from new partners, but we were excited because we knew our topic was very interesting,

After talking over a cup of coffee, we realized that we had made new friends with whom we would carry out an excellent project, but also have a great time.

All members presented their organizations and we learned about the activities, methods and the field of adult education. Alongside the two schools (Initiative and Europass), there was a creative organization which implements storytelling when working with marginalized groups.

We learned a very important piece of information; storytelling is not just a skill of telling stories, but also listening.

We chose a book for the project and the book club, which was Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession. It is a book about ordinary, unusual people that moved our students.

On the second day, we dove deeper into the project in order to assign roles and talk about our tasks. Impact exercise helped us with that. We use this exercise when putting the project on paper or when meeting new partners. The goal of the exercise is to get a clearer picture of the impact of our project on our organizations, but most importantly, on our students.

We identified project success indicators and then talked over a cup of coffee to end up, as it usually happens in Croatia, hanging out until late drinking pelinkovac.

The last day was the most fun one. We discussed marketing and dissemination activities.

We settled on a marketing plan and result dissemination plan, selected hashtags, and exchanged Facebook and Instagram accounts. So that everyone keeps busy when we go back to our routine, each partner needs to design a visual identity project.

You will find out what we came up with in a month.

At the end, our guests participated in our Erasmus Days Workshop and the dissemination of our KA1 project "Pokreni Inicijativu". Our guests learned about creative teaching online tools as well as how to entice students to think critically!

We are grateful to our partners Storytelling Centre, Europass Teacher Academy, Eva and Layla, who madet his experience even better!

Initiative - Centre for Education is the promoter of the international Erasmus+ project with the code number: 2020-1-HR01-KA227-ADU-094782 which is dedicated to the implementation of innovative and creative methods in the work of organizations.

This project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme. Enriching lives, opening minds - Erasmus+

#innovation #creativity #Erasmus+ #education #storytelling #language

Jelena Posavec

CREATIVITY FOR INNOVATION, ERASMUS+ K2 projekt • Inicijativa