Which method should we use to teach foreign languages effectively?

Today I want to talk about which method should we use to teach foreign languages effectively.

While I was learning English I had been always feeling that English lessons are always the same, a lot of grammar and few vocabulary and speaking exercises, and here is when the demotivation comes. Students are learning English during all their lives and when they go abroad (either to study or just to visit other countries) they are completely unable to speak in English.

What I am doing actually with my students (and this is the method of the school I am working for uses) is follow next strategies:

-       - Having an appropriate physical environment: the classes are decorated with multilingual labels, posters, displays of work… So when kids go into the class, they get a good impression of the use of a foreign language.

-    . Using the target language: this is he most important strategy because kids can be immersed in the language. Immersion is the ideal situation for language learning at school and it can be improved if we, as teachers, use the target language as a medium of communication. If we use it, students listening skills will improve and also it will develop strategic and discursive competences in hearing communication in real contexts.

-    . Using rhythms, songs, games and stories produces a lot of benefits because it improves listening, pronunciation and speaking skills. Using this kind of activities helps them because they learn and enjoy at the same time. In working with stories they develop their language skills and sense of identity because they have top lay different roles.

I really like using these strategies because I’ve seen that they are productive. So that’s why I want to share with all of you!