ApplicationofFlippedClassroomtoVocationalCollegeEnglishTeaching

宋薇

【Abstract】Unlike traditional teaching method，flipped classroom is a form of blended learning in which students learn content online by watching video lecture，usually at home，and students and teachers discuss and solve questions by more personalized guidance and interaction in class，instead of lecturing.Flipped classroom is very useful to vocational college English teaching.

【Key Words】flipped classroom； vocational college English teaching； independent learning；

I.Introduction of Flipped Classroom

Flipped classroom，as a revolution in teaching method，was pioneered by Two American teachers，John Bergmann and Aaron Sams.In flipped classroom，students use technology at home to watch online video lectures，demonstrations，and explanations of assignments.Class time is spent doing what is traditionally called “homework”.The teacher in a flipped classroom is a learning facilitator，able to work one-to-one with students，clarify assignments，and offer help as needed.A major benefit is that teachers spend more time working directly with students instead of lecturing to them. The downside is the need for access to technology and the students own motivation to watch the videos.

II.Application of Flipped Classroom in Vocational College English Teaching

As Rober Tabert in Franklin College asserted，flipped classroom contains before-class and in-class teaching.Before class，students gain first exposure to new material via reading videos.Then in class teachers help students assimilate that knowledge through strategies such as problem-solving，discussion or debates.Based on Robert Taberts studies，this paper tried to combine task teaching method with flipped classroom.It analyzed the application of flipped classroom through two processes，including before-class learning and in-class activity.

1.Before-Class Learning

Before class，teachers prepare video lectures according to teaching methods and contents.By watching these video lectures，students first study the topic by themselves.An indispensable part is assignment.Then students are required to finish certain tasks as an exam.

Take an English reading class as an example.A video lecture，prepared by teachers，teaches students new words and important language points.Students learn the video by themselves.It realizes personalized learning.In order to ensure effective before class learning，a check task should be included.The forms of the task can be questions like filling blanks，true or false，multiple choices，etc.Mastery Learning，proposed by Bloom，gives theoretical support to before-class learning.It argued that all children can learn if they are provided with the appropriate learning conditions （Anderson，2000）.Before-class learning provides students with appropriate conditions.It enables student self-paced learning and teachers one to one tutoring.

2.In-Class-Activities

The aim of in-class activities is to improve students language practical skills in use，which is the core of flipped classroom.According to constructive theory，learners construct meaning from what they do to learn.Knowledge is acquired by collaborative activities among people to realize meaning construction.In flipping class，since knowledge instruction is finished by before-class video，teachers in class have more time and space to discuss and communicate with students.How to carry out in-class activity？ Based on task-teaching method，this paper proposed an in-class-activities model.Language use is the motivation and the core of in-class-activities.Teacher can set some tasks so as to make students do to learn.The teaching procedure contains setting task，finish task and feedback.

Setting task： Teachers set various tasks with teaching aims，contents and students basic information in mind.For example，about the topic of “College Life”，teachers can design the following tasks.What are the differences between college life and high school life？ How to communicate with classmates？

Finish task： Class is divided into several groups.Students complete task by cooperation，which is in accordance with constructive theory of doing to learn.

Feedback： Students give report by many methods，including oral presentation，writing an essay，PPT presentation，video presentation，play.

III.Tips of Flipped Classroom in English Teaching

Flipped classroom encourages student to develop their independent learning ability and makes learners to learn actively.In order to use flipped classroom better，teachers should have a good command of information technology.Teachers should have patience to train their independent learning ability step by step.As most colleges students are accustomed to traditional teaching.

Reference：

[1]Anderson， J.R.Learning and memory： An integrated approach （2nd ed.）.New York： John Wiley and Sons， Inc.（2000）.