Learning Through Simulations

Book excerpt: This book is written for teacher educators who are looking for strategies to teach a foreign or second language in a more meaningful way whilst applying active methodologies to develop critical thinking skills. The book is designed to guide the readers through a series of simulations that provide challenging learning opportunities, similar to the ones experienced in real life, whereby each simulation is designed to support participants’ language and critical thinking skills and their abilities as future teachers. The book first introduces the concept of simulations in education. Then it provides examples of fully developed simulations and instructions for their implementation, a template for the readers to create their own simulations, as well as suggestions for peer classroom observation and professional development. Finally, three case studies exploring student learning through simulations are presented. This book is a useful teaching resource for teacher instructors, English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language students, secondary school teachers and for language institutions.