The last time we met James, he was learning how to decline adjectives, using a behaviourist language learning app. James is also taking a conversation class to help him learn the language. Here he meets with a small group of students at around the same level. Some are more confident in their grammar skills, others have a wider vocabulary, some have better pronunciation than others. Their tutor has set the group a task to come up with an advert: describing the products in a store of their choice, using appropriate adjectives. Each group of four students will present their advert to the others.

​

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

James can already decline adjectives, in isolation, when the other information is given to him. He is struggling to use this skill in conversation, when combined with selecting and using vocabulary to express his own ideas. As a part of a group, with the tutors’ support, he is able to achieve this. This skill is prime for learning as it is in James’ ZPD.

​

Scaffolding Strategies

The tutor first shows the group a demonstration of a descriptive advert of the type they should write. She maintains their interest by allowing them to use their own ideas and initiative in choosing a store. She control’s the level of learner frustration, stepping in to provide new appropriate vocabulary, appropriate to the groups chosen topic. She checks in on each group, drawing their attention to the core task of selecting and declining adjectives and the steps needed to do this.

​

Social Constructivist Strategies

In their group work, the learners are able to access one another’s strengths, modelling, correcting and learning from one another. They talk through their ideas, building on one another’s input and clarifying their understanding.