Málfríður - 15.03.2006, Blaðsíða 10

10 MÁLFRÍÐUR
Introduction
FET and RML represent teaching attitudes focusing
on the process of internalization of subject matter
and the facilitation of a pleasurable way of teach­
ing and learning with considerable creativity on the
side of the teacher and the learner.
The ability to learn is most important in human
life and it should be treated accordingly. We must
develop it with great support and invention dur­
ing the whole of pre­mature life. The age from 10
to 15 seems to play a key role in the possibilities of
developing creativity, effective learning and abstract
thinking. That is why it is so important to motivate
pupils suitably and to stimulate them permanently
to become actively involved in the learning process.
In other words learners should be educated in the
ability to learn and they should find learning as
pleasurable as possible. Our work can be seen from
this point of view as a contribution to the humaniza­
tion of education, as well as bringing harmony into
school.
Fun English Teaching
FET is the first stage in helping to create a relaxed
atmosphere in the class more easily acquired through
the emotional effect of such means as poems, songs,
tongue twisters, chants, games etc. Pupils continu­
ously and very naturally adapt the fact that learn­
ing can be fun and an adventure. Many times they
experience a joyful mood which is changed into
a challenge for better preparation at home. They feel
relaxed at school and are able to concentrate better.
They learn to manage their excitement step by step,
adjust to collective as well as individual work. Most
important is that they feel free to suggest solutions
for different tasks they solve as problems. Thus they
experience happiness from creating.
Initiation of Relaxed Mind
Relaxed Mind Learning has a preparatory phase
during which pupils practice sitting in a relaxed
position with closed eyes, develop their imagina­
tion, train to focus and dissolve their attention.
Some examples of preparatory exercises:
a) listening to nature sounds – running water,
buzzing bees on meadow flowers, birds sing­
ing, sea waves ...
Pead Dr Vi­li­am Bujňák
has been worki­ng as
a teacher of Physi­cal Edu­
cati­on and Engli­sh at the
Secondary Health School
of St. Bazi­l the Great i­n
Prešov, i­n Slovaki­a, si­nce
2000. After he had fi­n­
i­shed hi­s studi­es at the
Comeni­us Uni­versi­ty i­n
Brati­slava he taught i­n
Pi­lsen – the Czech Republi­c, as a secondary
school teacher, then as vi­ce di­rector and from
1983 to 1990 as di­rector of the Sport School i­n
Pi­lsen, whi­ch he had founded. At that ti­me
he was also acti­ve as methodologi­st leadi­ng
begi­nni­ng teachers, and he was engaged i­n
maki­ng the teachi­ng process more effecti­ve. In
years 1997 – 2000 at the Basi­c School i­n Kri­vany
– Eastern Slovaki­a, he put i­nto practi­ce the
project Fun Engli­sh Teachi­ng (FET) – Relaxed
Mi­nd Learni­ng (RML) wi­th pupi­ls from 10 to
15. He presented the results of thi­s project at
many conferences of teachers of Engli­sh i­n
Slovaki­a and i­n the Czech Republi­c. At present
he cooperates wi­th the Methodologi­cal Centre
i­n Prešov i­n retrai­ni­ng teachers for the New
Maturi­ta – new fi­nal exam, and he has been
conducti­ng workshops at whi­ch he i­nstructs
teachers how to use those alternati­ve approach­
es i­n teachi­ng Engli­sh.
Dr. Viliam Bujňák
Dr. Viliam Bujnák. Secondary Health School of St. Bazil the Great in Prešov
– Slovakia viljan@zoznam.sk
Fun English Teaching –
Relaxed Mind Learning
Approaches to teaching and learning
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