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Construction and use of teaching materials
In a language class, the teacher introduces as many materials relating to the lesson as
possible. S/he makes every effort so as to make his/her lesson clear to the students. The
materials that a teacher can make use in class can be black board, flannel board, flash cards,
charts, pictures and magazine cut outs, match stick drawings, language games and songs,
etc. The teacher should make maximum use of these materials for they work as powerful
means of motivation. The pupils are always curious to know through the use of a variety of
materials that the teacher introduces in the class.
Visual aids are inseparable from teaching. A successful class uses these aids which can be
either visual or audio-visual. Audio-visual aids are related to hearing and seeing both. A
radio is an audio aid and a television an audio-visual aid. Language games and songs are
examples of simply audio aids. Whether it is an audio or audio-visual or a visual aid, such
aids are to be brought and used by the teacher to reinforce what s/he has taught. One great
secret of learning is to employ as many sense organs (-eye, ear, nose, skin and tongue) as
possible. We can find out what an object is by seeing it, hearing it, smelling it, feeling it and
tasting it.
i) Blackboard/whiteboard
The blackboard is a most versatile visual aid. It is placed in front of the class. It is most
useful because we can use it to put a word, words or drawings on it. We can rub it off
when finished. The blackboard is used for writing instructions of longer sentences
because such sentences cannot always be written on flashcards.
But it will, however, be wise to write such long instructions on the blackboard before the
pupils enter the classroom. A blackboard can be used to explain the words, phrases,
sentences, story outlines, etc. and to draw pictures, graphs, diagrams, charts, etc. These
drawing sketches, however, need not stay long on the board. One great advantage of
blackboard sketches over pictures is that the students can see a situation or a story
developing right in front of their eyes.
The blackboard is most useful to teach aural-oral skills, reading and writing skills, and to
teach grammar. Use of coloured chalk will help in focussing pupils' attention and will
make the lesson interesting. The teacher has to write very neatly and legibly on the
blackboard.
ii) Flannel board:
A flannel board is made of a metre-long flannel or cotton cloth with its two edges (the
right and left) stitched with one stick attached to or inserted in. A flannel board is hung
in front of the classroom.
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