Realia

I have had a lovely time in Scotland and I would like to share some of my experience. 

We all have an idea of what interdisciplinary means. We bring a topic to the classroom and through some other subjects, we work on it. 

Lets give an example: EXCURSION. 

This topic can be very good to teach English. We can include Geography as the parallel discipline to bring up some knowledge about the place we are going to visit, for instance, reading a map, searching for location, population, roads and distance. History will help to develop our knowledge about time, facts, people and relevance of the area. Through Science we are going to find out how to preserve the environment, and exactly how we should behave ourselves. 

I could extend this topic as much as I need, but I want to register the brilliant idea the TESOL teachers in Scotland are offering to the students. We went to Glasgow to visit The People's Palace, The Oldest House, and St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art. As part of the program, we also were in Edinburgh to see the Castle and The Parliament. We walked around those gorgeous streets of Edinburgh and we were delighted with such  magnificent architecture. If you are surprised, I will tell you more. We visited the spectacular exhibition and the recreation of the voyages of the Royal Research Ship Discovery, built in Dundee to take Captain Scott to Antarctica,  the Discovery Point. The Verdant Works a heritage museum tells the story of Dundee's jute industry, the glorious Jute time, that represented a lot not only for the development of Dundee, but also of the world. 

Are you wondering about "Realia"? That's right!!! "Realia" in EFL (English as a Foreing Language) terms refers to any real objects we use in the classroom to bring the class to life. How rich is the unique experience to live the environment in its real sense. I can't forget to mention about the occasion when a Scottish Policeman came to introduce himself, and talked about his job, his career, and informed foreigners about basic British law, which everybody should know. Talking about career, The Career Centre can help you to find the way. Astonished!!!! Next week we are watching a play in a Theatre. Brilliant!!! This is "Realia". Enjoy yourself and make your class fun, educational, and motivating. This way you expose the students to more language than simply destinations.