MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY of EDUCATION Department of English Language and Literature

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MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY of EDUCATION Department of English Language and Literature MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Department of English Language and Literature Experiential Learning and its Impact on Students of English Bachelor Thesis Brno 2016 Supervisor: Author: Ailsa Marion Randall, M.A. Kateřina Špačková Declaration: Prohlašuji, že jsem závěrečnou bakalářskou práci vypracovala samostatně, s využitím pouze citovaných pramenů, dalších informací a zdrojů v souladu s Disciplinárním řádem pro studenty Pedagogické fakulty Masarykovy univerzity a se zákonem č. 121/2000 Sb., o právu autorském, o právechsouvisejících s právem autorským a o změně některých zákonů (autorský zákon), ve znění pozdějších předpisů. I hereby declare that I worked on my thesis independently, using only the sources listed in the bibliography. I agree with storing of this work in the library of the Faculty of Education at the Masaryk University Brno and making it accessible for study purposes. Brno, 20 March 2016 …………………………………. Kateřina Špačková 2 Acknowledgements: I would like to thank to my supervisor Ailsa Randall for all her kind help and valuable advice which she provided throughout the whole process of my writing. I would also like to thank all those who participated in the intensive language course in autumn 2013, when I first went to Fryšták, as it was the first time I was introduced to experiential learning. Even more so I wish to give my thanks to those who participated in the course in Fryšták in spring 2015, as they inspired me to write this thesis. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my classmates and other students of the faculty for their help with my research. 3 Annotation This bachelor thesis deals with experiential learning and intensive learning courses in English and its title is “Experiential Learning and its Impact on Students of English”. The aim of this thesis is to focus on experiential learning and courses related to this kind of learning as well as on the consequences and the impact it has on students of combined and daily studies. Furthermore, the thesis is focused on various activities and methods taught in a course in Fryšták as well as similar courses and the increase of students’ usage of these activities in their own teaching. In the theoretical part, experiential learning and intensive learning courses are thoroughly examined and subsequently described with a focus on activities and methods. The practical part is based on the research which was done via questionnaire and interviews with students of English language within Masaryk University in Brno. Key words: experiential learning, intensive learning courses, Fryšták, activities, teaching and learning methods Anotace Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá zážitkovou výukou a intenzivními jazykovými kurzy v anglickém jazyce a její název je „Zážitková výuka a její vliv na studenty anglického jazyka”. Cílem této práce je podrobně popsat a rozebrat experimentální výuku a intenzivní zážitkové kurzy a jejich vliv na studenty. Dále se práce zabývá metodami a aktivitami používanými v rámci kurzu ve Fryštáku a v rámci podobných jazykových kurzů. Zároveň se práce zabývá nárůstem použití těchto metod a aktivit ve výukách studentů, kteří kurz ve Fryštáku absolvovali. V teoretické části jsou zážitková výuka a intenzivní jazykové kurzy důkladně prozkoumány a následně popsány. Praktická část je založena na výzkumu, který byl vykonán na základě kvalitativního dotazníku a rozhovorů se studenty anglického jazyka na Masarykově Univerzitě v Brně. Klíčová slova: zážitková výuka, intenzivní jazykové kurzy, Fryšták, aktivity, výukové metody 4 Content Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 8 THEORETICAL PART ............................................................................................... 10 1 Communicative Approach ................................................................................... 11 2 Experiential Learning ........................................................................................... 13 2.1 Role of Experiential Learning .......................................................................... 15 2.2 Foundations of Experiential Learning .............................................................. 15 2.2.1 Kolb’s Learning Cycle .............................................................................. 16 2.3 Aspects of Experiential Learning ..................................................................... 17 2.3.1 The Learning Environment ....................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Learning Activities .................................................................................... 17 2.3.3 Reflection and Motivation in Experiential Learning ................................ 18 2.3.4 Senses ........................................................................................................ 19 2.3.5 Emotions ................................................................................................... 19 2.3.6 Intelligence ................................................................................................ 19 2.3.7 Learning and Change ................................................................................ 20 2.3.8 Personalized Learning ............................................................................... 20 2.3.9 Creative Teaching and Learning ............................................................... 20 2.3.10 Comfort Zone ............................................................................................ 21 2.4 Experience and Intelligence ............................................................................. 22 2.5 Experiential Learning and LARP ..................................................................... 22 3 Experiential Education in our Country .............................................................. 24 3.1 Historical and Political Background ................................................................. 24 3.2 Vacation School Lipnice .................................................................................. 25 4 Experiential Courses ............................................................................................. 26 4.1 Characteristic .................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Aims ................................................................................................................. 27 5 4.3 Dramaturgy ....................................................................................................... 28 4.3.1 The Five Stages of Dramaturgy ................................................................ 28 PRACTICAL PART ..................................................................................................... 30 1 Introduction to Research ...................................................................................... 31 2 Intensive Language Course in Fryšták ............................................................... 33 2.1 Description of the Course ................................................................................. 33 2.2 Aims of the Course ........................................................................................... 33 2.3 Venue ................................................................................................................ 34 2.4 Participants ....................................................................................................... 35 2.5 Topic of the course ........................................................................................... 35 3 Programme of the Course .................................................................................... 37 3.1 Before the Course and an Invitation Letter ...................................................... 37 3.2 Arrival and beginning of the course ................................................................. 37 3.2.1 Press Conference and First Evening ......................................................... 38 3.2.2 Ice-breakers ............................................................................................... 38 3.2.3 Guardian Angel ......................................................................................... 39 3.3 Regular Activities ............................................................................................. 39 3.3.1 Morning Circles ........................................................................................ 39 3.3.2 Morning and Afternoon Programme ......................................................... 40 3.4 Optional Activities ........................................................................................... 42 3.4.1 Literature ................................................................................................... 42 3.4.2 Crafts ......................................................................................................... 43 3.4.3 Art ............................................................................................................. 43 3.4.4 Drama ........................................................................................................ 43 3.5 End of the Course Activities ............................................................................ 44 3.5.1 Burning Page ............................................................................................. 44 3.5.2 Final Evaluation .......................................................................................
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