Our Learning Method
In order to ensure that all of The Q Group’s language-learning products are both highly effective and user-friendly, each product has been designed according to the most current pedagogical principles and theories put forth by experts in the field of language learning. Therefore, every aspect of The Q Group’s courses reflects these principles, and each course is custom-tailored to meet the diverse needs of the target audience.
In addition, The Q Group understands the growing need to meet international standards and benchmarks, and therefore takes into account all the widely-used and relevant standards and standard-driven tests when designing new products, or upgrading existing courses.
Some of the English pedagogical principles and theories incorporated into The Q Group’s products include:
Communicative Approach – As communication is the ultimate goal for any language student, the learning process should focus on authentic communication. This type of communicative approach to language teaching allows learners to improve all the necessary language skills in order to successfully function in the target language.
Theme-based Learning – A theme-based language learning course provides students with ample exposure to repeated topics, phrases, vocabulary, and naturally occurring grammatical structures. This is the way in which we learn our first language, and it is also an effective way for second- or foreign-language students to acquire new vocabulary and structures, and to improve their new language skills. In addition, offering several texts, listening passages, and/or videos on similar topics, allows students to more easily guess unfamiliar vocabulary and structures from context, which is an important strategy to learn.
Task-based Learning – Students learn best by doing. Therefore, incorporating meaningful tasks that students can only complete by learning necessary and relevant language, allows learners to succeed on both the task at hand, which is motivating, and also to develop their language skills in a natural way.
Skills-based Design – A skills-based course means that all language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), vocabulary, and grammar, are practiced simultaneously. This is important for authentic communication and comprehension, and allows learners to reinforce one skill with another.
Student-centered and Independent Learning – Courses incorporate democratic environments and built-in, level-appropriate, pedagogical tools among other features, in order to best foster independent learning, and to ensure that all courses – even those that are teacher-led - are student-centered.
Multi-media – Courses incorporate multi-media technology – such as slide shows, videos, recordings for all texts, and animations - in order to enhance the pedagogical principles in place. This is true for both the activities and also the interfaces of the courses, which have been designed not only to best suit the level, but also the personal preferences of the learner.
Scaffolding – Level-appropriate pedagogical tools are available to the learner at any time. These tools scaffold the learning process, as they provide students with a variety of support including definitions, explanations, translations, examples, and learning strategies, for all language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), vocabulary acquisition, and grammar.
Authenticity – Courses offer students maximal exposure to authentic language. Learners navigate through the courses, and read texts, listen to recordings, and watch videos that provide practice in all language skills, and teach grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in meaningful contexts.
Feedback and assessment – Since feedback is an essential component of language learning and is both motivating and reinforcing, courses incorporate several kinds of feedback and assessment. Firstly, all interactive practice activities have automatic feedback. Secondly, special tools and lessons in some courses – such as the Speaking Lab tool and the Guided Writing Lessons – offer graphic feedback for speaking, and rubrics for writing goals. Thirdly, achievement tests provide learners with a way to check their ultimate progress. In addition, students can check their on-going progress at any time, in the progress section of the courses.
Cultural Diversity – Catering to a diverse target audience means that incorporating aspects of cultural diversity into our courses is of utmost importance to us. Therefore, the content of all courses offer general world knowledge appropriate to English language learners from across the globe.
