INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA FOR TEFL

Instructional media are tools or means to carry messages for teaching and learning purposes. TEFL can utilize various media, from the simple one, such as, chalkboard, to the sophisticated one, such as computer.

INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA FOR TEFL

INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA FOR TEFL

Blackboards, chalkboard,

white-board, board

Flannel board, display board

Realia, real objects, models

Pictures, Photos

Flash-Cards

Stick Figures

Chart

Big Book

Printed Material

INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA FOR TEFL

Module, Programmed Instruction

Games and Songs

Simulation, Role-Play,

Drama

Overhead Projector

Computer

Power Point

Internet, E-mail

Language Laboratory

Language-rich Environment

Blackboard, Chalkboard, Whiteboard and Board

The most traditional media for teaching is blackboard. It is available in almost all classrooms in Indonesia. Later, when there were other variations of the board color, such as green or brown, it is called chalkboard. Then, it changed again into white-board, which used board-marker instead of chalk. Here we call it just board. Board can be used for many purposes: lecturing, explanation, presentation, drawing, writing summary/outline, etc.

Flannel board, display boardFlannel board is a board made of

flannel/cloth. This board can be used for displaying students' works, writings, announcements, or pictures. It can also be used by teachers to display media for teaching.

Display board is like a chalkboard, but smaller in size. It functions like a flannel board, but it is not made of flannel. It can be made of wood or carton. Teachers can use cello-tape to stick the materials for display.

Realia, Real-object, ModelsTeachers can show real objects or

imitated objects for introducing objects. Real objects which can be brought to the class are stationery, kitchen utensils, fruits, vegetables, etc. Real objects are very useful because the students can see, touch, taste, smell, or manipulate them.

Pictures, photosPictures/photos can be used for

teaching descriptive text (e.g. picture of objects, sceneries), procedure text (e.g. picture of ingredients), recount text (e.g. picture of events), argumentative text (e.g. picture of situations). Serial pictures can be used for teaching narrative text or anecdotes. Teachers can use big pictures stuck on the board, or copies of small pictures distributed to the students.

Flash-cards

Flash-cards (PCs) are carton cards with the size of 20x25 cm, with pictures on them. PCs are usually used for drilling. The techniques for using them are: (a) write in the back of each card the name of object in the picture, (b) hold the cards in front of you,(c) flash/move the cards from the back to the front, not the other way around, so that you can see/read the label of the card before you move it.

Stick FiguresStick figures are a technique for

drawing objects (e.g. face, person, animal, plant) in the forms of sticks/lines and circles. This technique is simple and can be learned easily. A teacher can draw stick figures on the board or flash-cards. The drawing of two persons with bubbles, for instance, can be used for modeling a dialog.

ChartA chart is a carton with the size of

around 60 x 100 cm. It can be divided into 6, 8, or 12 columns. Each column contains a picture (drawn, clipped from magazine, or made in stick figure). A chart is usually stuck on board and used for drilling. Teachers are advised to buy these charts and put them up in their classrooms, especially in young learners' classes.

Big bookA big book is a book which is big in size,

e.g. 30 x 40 cm. A teacher can make a big book by using the back pages of a used calendar. Each page contains a picture and wording about the picture. A big book contains serial pictures of a story or events, and is suitable for teaching narrative, such as, Malin Kundang, A Mouse Deer and Crocodiles, or Cinderella. Stand the big book on a table or a chair in front of the class. The teacher can tell a story and show the pictures page by page.

Printed materialsPrinted materials can be

in the forms of books, booklets, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, magazines, newspapers, clippings, or sheets containing texts. They are used for teaching reading or speaking.

Module, programmed instruction

A module or programmed instruction is a self-contained instructional material to be used for independent study. It consists of an activity sheet, a work sheet, a key to the work sheet, and a post-test sheet.

Games and SongsThere are a great number of

games and songs which can be used as media for TEFL; even a teacher can create them. There are 3 purposes of using games or songs for teaching and learning activities, namely: (a) as the main topic, (b) as reinforcement, or (c) as an extra activity.

Simulation, role-play, drama

Simulation, role-play, and drama, as instructional media, can mean the same thing, i.e., putting a text into action. Interpersonal/ transactional dialogs, narrative texts, or anecdotes are best simulated, role-played, or dramatized.

Overhead projectorOverhead projector (OHP) is

an instructional media which can project pictures or writings in transparencies to a screen or wall of the class. It functions like a board, but has some advantages compared with board.

ComputerNowadays, students are getting more

and more familiar with computer. A teacher may buy or create a language learning program operated in a computer. A special program for language learning is called CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning). Computer can be an effective aid for teaching language skills and language components, and for remedial and enrichment purposes

Power pointPower point is one property of

computer. However, it is discussed separately here because it has special purposes. Power point is effective for lecturing. Some principles of using power point are: (a) include only outlines in the display, (b) the background illustration, picture, or sound should not distract the attention of the audience.

Internet, e-mailInternet and e-mail are also

properties of computer. As an aid in teaching and learning activities, internet can be used by teacher or students to search for learning resources or references. In some educational institutions, process of consultation, giving/collecting assignments, sending references, are done through internet.

Language laboratoryAn old-type language

laboratory was a room containing a set of tape-recorders completed with cassette-tapes. Nowadays, the tape-recorders are replaced by computers. Therefore, the use of language laboratory in teaching and learning process is the same as the use of computers.

Language-rich environmentLanguage-rich environment is a

school environment which is enriched with the target language exposure. The enrichment can be in the forms of: pictures, labels, mottos, charts, posters, proverbs/wise-words, special ex pressions, clippings, displays, formulae, advertisements, announcements, magazines, newspapers, or book corners.

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