The Swing of the Pendulum – Objectivism or Constructivism in Language Education?

Ekaterina Sofronieva; Todor Shopov

Ekaterina Sofronieva “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of SoGa, Bulgaria
Todor Shopov “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of SoGa, Bulgaria

Keywords: language education, objectivism, constructivism

Abstract

This paper reviews objectivism and constructivism: the two educational ideologies which underlie diterent language teaching methods, applied in the classrooms for decades. It rewects on some marked diterences among the existing language theories and practices within the two traditions and their impact on early language education. The authors emphasize the changes in the focus of the educational paradigms and the need of working methodologies and classroom practices that are in line with the contemporary requirements of modern education. A shift from learning that to learning how has been observed. Young students should be able to have new experiences in a new language by doing things as autonomous learners within a group that has established a positive learning environment. The focus of research should be on developing and applying etective, age-appropriate approaches which will facilitate the language learning of children and enhance their overall physical and psychological development.

Author Biographies

Ekaterina Sofronieva, “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of SoGa, Bulgaria

Asst. Prof. Ekaterina Sofronieva, PhD, teaches English language and methodology at the department of Pre-school Education, Faculty of Primary and Pre-school Education, Sova University. Her doctoral thesis examined empathy as a factor in language education.

Department of Pre-school Education, Faculty of Primary and Pre-school Education “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of Sova 69A Shipchenski Prohod Blvd., Sova 1574, Bulgaria

mobile phone: +359 889 589 387

Todor Shopov, “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of SoGa, Bulgaria

Prof. Todor Shopov, PhD, is Chair of English Language Teaching Methodology at the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, Sova University. He has published extensively in the veld of language education, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics.

Department of Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sova 15 Czar Osvoboditel Blvd., Sova 1504, Bulgaria

mobile phone: +359 888456949

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