R-A Chpt 4: Participatory Language Teaching

This chapter discussed how classrooms and learning can be set up so that it is more participatory and collaborative between the teacher and students. Teachers and students share each others roles, however that doesn't mean that the teacher isn't the one in charge of the class and its attainment of their goals. I think that it is smart to empower the students to take control of their own learning, and especially teach them strategies(which this chapter listed quite a few) that they can use to do so. I however do disagree with what the author said about Theme Cycles, or where the students and teachers create the curriculum together, and from the previous theme chosen, they can pick the following theme together as well. I feel that it is the teachers job to have already planned the main objectives and big ideas for the course and shouldn't be decided on a whim. That being said, I think that as long as the teacher has the objectives in place, I don't see why the students can't take part in creating activities, or choosing their own projects as long as they meet the objectives. I could be wrong, but at this point in time, that is my opinion :)