Teaching chinese through drama and song

Brain-Based
Foreign Language Learning
Merzlikina Kate
14A01
Mental Perception
•
The meaningful brain
•
The curious brain
•
The emotional brain
•
The social brain
•
The conscious & subconscious brain
The meaningful brain
•
Meaning is more important to the brain than
information is.
•
The brain searches for meaning through
patterning. Patterning allows for the storage
and connection of information into meaningful
categories.
The curious brain
•
The brain is attracted to novelty.
•
It tends to become more active when
exposed to new ideas and challenges.

The emotional brain
•
Emotions and intelligence originate in
separate places in the brain, however, their
paths cross each other - they are inseparable.
•
It can be enhanced by stimulus and
challenge.
The social brain
•
Our brain is social. Interaction and social
status impact stress level.
•
Language learning becomes more effective in
a learner friendly setting where scaffolding,
cooperative learning, and social interaction
take place.
The conscious and subconscious brain
•
Learning involves both conscious and
subconscious processes.
•
Learning not only takes place in the
classroom but occurs in everyday life.
Successful language learners extend their
learning beyond the textbook and the
classroom.
Mel Levine: Founder of
All Kinds of Minds Institute
… transform a verbal into a visual

task, and a visual task into a
kinesthetic one. Challenging
the brain, not numbing it with
overload, keeps the mind happily
humming and is essential to
teaching.
A Mind at a Time (2002)
Engage the Emotional Brain
“Why do I have to learn Chinese?”
“I have no choice, it’s the ONLY language offered here!”
Vs.
“I LOVE CHINESE! We wrote skits and they were soooo funny!
“My Chinese teacher taught us the coolest song in class!”
Engage the Emotional Brain
But that’s not REAL learning!
Real learning entails suffering!
But I didn’t learn that way!
Engaging the Meaningful Brain
What is the purpose of learning a language?
To know all the rules and never make a mistake
To pronounce every tone perfectly
To communicate and share your meaning
Language teaching is the perfect place to
practice engaging, brain-based learning
•
Music and Movement
•
Listening to music creates state of relaxed
alertness

•
Music creates emotion in students
•
Enjoy listening to music
Conscious and Subconscious Brain