Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Department of English Language and Literature
Brno 2010
Supervisor:
Mgr. Nadda Vojtkov
Written by:
Markta Plockov
Declaration
I declare that I worked independently on this thesis and used only the sources listed in
bibliography.
Prohlen
Prohlauji, e jsem diplomovou prci zpracovala samostatn a pouila jen prameny
uveden v seznamu literatury.
Brno, 20 April 2010
------------------------------------Markta Plockov
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Mgr. Nadda Vojtkov for all her kind help, support and valuable
advice which she provided as a supervisor of this thesis.
I would also like to thank all those who were present at the Wonderland October 2009
course for being a part of the wonderful community and creating an inspiring and joyful
atmosphere.
2
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 5
Theoretical part
1. Communicative Approach .................................................................................... 7
2. Experiential learning ............................................................................................. 9
2.1 The origins of experiential learning ................................................................. 10
2.2 Kolbs Learning cycle ...................................................................................... 11
2.3 Characteristics of experiential learning ............................................................ 12
2.4 Learning from experience ................................................................................ 14
2.5 Learning as a personal process......................................................................... 15
2.6 Learning styles ................................................................................................. 16
2.7 Chronological perspective................................................................................ 18
3. Experiential courses ............................................................................................... 20
3.1 Characteristics .................................................................................................. 20
3.2 Aims ................................................................................................................. 21
3.3 Dramaturgy ...................................................................................................... 21
3.3.1 Five stages of developing dramaturgy .................................................... 22
4. Multiple Intelligences theory................................................................................. 24
Practical part
1. Introduction to the research..................................................................................... 28
2. Description of the course .......................................................................................... 30
2.1 Venue .................................................................................................................. 30
2.2 Participants .......................................................................................................... 31
2.3 Topic of the course .............................................................................................. 31
2.4 Aims of the course .............................................................................................. 32
3. Programme of the course.......................................................................................... 33
3.1 Invitation letter .................................................................................................... 33
3.2 Introductory activities ......................................................................................... 34
3.3 First evening activities ........................................................................................ 34
3.3.1 Press conference ......................................................................................... 34
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Introduction
This thesis deals with intensive experiential courses and their role in foreign
language teaching. I had the opportunity to become a participant of a number of
experiential courses and also a participant and later assistant at the Intensive experiential
courses in Frytk organised by the Department of English Language and Literature at
the Masaryk University Faculty of Education. The connection of English and the
experiential learning seemed very powerful to me, and therefore deserved my attention
as well as the Frytk courses themselves.
The theoretical part of the thesis introduces the basic theoretical underpinnings that
the Intensive experiential courses in Frytk are built on. In the first chapter, the
Communicative Approach is presented. It provides the theoretical background to
developing the communicative skills of learners, which was one of the aims of the
Wonderland course. The second chapter deals with the theory of the experiential
learning, including a brief outline of its origins, the characteristics, principles, and
introduction of the basic learning styles. The experiential learning theory influences the
development of an experiential course importantly, as is explained in the third chapter.
The fourth chapter provides an explanation about the Multiple Intelligences theory by
Howard Gardner. The main aim of the theoretical part is to provide the theory that has
an impact on experiential course design, and to connect this to foreign language
teaching.
The focus of the practical part was reduced only to the course named Wonderland
2009 that was held during October 26 to October 30 in Dm Ignce Stuchlho in
Frytk. The aim is to describe the course and evaluate the benefit of it for all who were
present, the students as well as teachers.
As a participant, I felt that the course was a really important part of my studies. Not
only did it help me to develop the communication skills, but it also changed my whole
view of the school in the most positive way that can be imagined. Therefore, I wanted to
discover if the course had the same impact on other participants. If their experience had
been similar to mine, I believe it would confirm that organizing the course was more
than worth the effort. In addition, it would show that such courses have their place in the
foreign language education and are even highly recommendable.
THEORETICAL PART
1. Communicative Approach
The origins of the Communicative Approach have arisen both in linguistics and in
language teaching as a reaction against the view of language as a set of structures
(Brumfit and Johnson 3). Formerly, linguistics was concerned mainly with the structure
of a language, and as language teaching is closely connected to contemporary linguistic
view, language teachers were mainly interested in grammatical correctness. In other
words, the form rather than the meaning has dominated the teaching (Brumfit and
Johnson 2). Eventually, it had been found that the knowledge of grammar rules itself
does not enable students to use the language for communicative purposes sufficiently.
Communication does not imply just composing correct sentences but using them to
make statements of different kinds, to describe, to record, to classify and so on, or to ask
questions, make requests, give orders (Widdowson in Brumfit and Johnson 118). As a
result of this discovery, a reaction towards a view of language as communication, a
view in which meaning and the uses to which language is put play a central part
(Brumfit and Johnson 3) has developed.
The Communicative Approach places emphasis on developing the communicative
competence, viewed as the overall underlying knowledge and ability for language use
which the speaker-listener possesses (Brumfit and Johnson 15).
Through the
activities provide whole-task practice, improve motivation, allow natural learning, and
are able to create a context which supports learning. To give more detailed explanation
to each of his suggestions, when the learners have had enough practice in the part-skills,
communicative activities provide a useful opportunity to train the total skill
communication in foreign language. Due to communicative activities, learners can
realize the relationship between their classroom work and the ability to communicate in
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real world, which is the final objective of their studies. Littlewood states that it is likely
that many aspects of language learning can take place only through natural processes
(17), which are in progress when a person is involved in using the language for
communication (17-18). Therefore, communicative activities play an important role in
the total learning process. These activities also create opportunities to build relationships
among all people involved in the learning process. Therefore a shift towards warmer and
more supportive learning environment can be achieved.
Littlewood divides communicative activities into functional communication and
social interaction ones. Functional communication activities are designed for the
learners to use whatever language they have at their disposal (20). Therefore, the
success is measured primarily by their ability to cope with the given task, not by their
grammatical accuracy and appropriateness of their choice of the language. Social
interaction activities place emphasis also on choosing language which is acceptable
according to the particular situation. Consequently, the success is measured according to
both the function effectiveness and correct language choice.
Finally, it is important to point out that the Communicative Approach often places
the responsibility for fulfilling the tasks on the learners themselves. The teacher creates
a situation and sets an activity, but his role during the activity is not direct, he can serve
as a guide, advisor or observer, but the main responsibility for coming to a conclusion
lies on his students.
2. Experiential learning
When defining experiential learning, second chapter of the Experiential Learning: A
Best Practice Handbook for Educators and Trainers investigates the difficulties that are
inevitable. The word experience as such can be defined in numerous ways, e.g.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English provides two descriptions, firstly (the
gaining of) knowledge or skill which comes from practice rather than from books and
secondly something that happens to one and has an effect on the mind and feelings.
Real experience is, however, even more broad, for the reason that two people, having
experienced the same event, would never perceive, remember and describe it the same
way into details (Beard and Wilson 16). Learning itself, defined e.g. by Wilson, is a
relatively permanent change of knowledge, attitude or behaviour occuring as a result of
formal education or training, or as a result of informal experiences (in Beard and
Wilson 19). Hence the definitions share certain features (e.g. change of knowledge and
attitudes), Beard and Wilson conclude that experience and learning would thus appear
to be closely intertwined and almost inseparable(19). As a result of the broad
possibilities to describe experience and learning themselves, various definitions have
been created to characterize experiential learning itself. Beard and Wilson state that:
In many respects, experience and learning mean the same thing and thus
experiential learning is a tautology or repetition of the same idea. We can
define experiential learning as the sense-making process of active engagement
between the inner world of the person and the outer world of the environment.
(Beard and Wilson 19)
James W. Gentry in his Guide to business Gaming and Experiential Learning uses
Deweys definition learning by doing and Wolfe and Byrnes experience based
learning (Chapter 2). David A. Kolb sees experiential learning as the process whereby
knowledge is created through the transformation of experience(38) and Luckmann
defines it as a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skill, and value
from direct experiences (qtd. in Martin, Franc and Zounkov 11). In Outdoor and
experiential learning Martin explains that experiential education involves an holistic
process, which combines experience, perception, cognition and behaviour, and aims to
encompass emotions, imagination and physical being, as well as intellect (12).
Although each definition uses different words, all of them involve the element of
change caused by experience (interaction between inner world and outer environment)
that affects the whole human personality.
contributions to the theory were also made by Paulo Freire and Ivan Illich, who might be
called radical educators due to their critique of the Western school system based on
control and class discrimination. In addition, the experiential learning theory was
enhanced by the scientific results of brain research. It was discovered that the modes of
knowing associated with the left and right hemispheres correspond directly with the
distinction between concrete experiential and abstract cognitive approaches to learning
(Kolb 16). As a result of this inquiry it can be said that both the ways of acquiring
information represent equal and complementary processes. However, this view stands
in sharp contrast to that of Piaget and other cognitive theorists, who consider concrete,
experience-oriented forms of knowing as lower developmental manifestations of true
knowledge, represented by abstract prepositional reasoning (Kolb 16-17).
Learning cycle created by David A. Kolb markedly influenced most parts of the
experiential learning theory. For that reason it seems useful to explore the cycle briefly
before going into details about the experiential learning.
The process of experiential learning has four stages (fig. 1) represented by four
adaptive learning modes concrete experience (1), reflective observation (2), abstract
conceptualization (3), and active experimentation (4). The modes form two pairs
(concrete experience and abstract conceptualization, reflective observation and active
experimentation) that represent dialectically opposed adaptive orientations. Kolb
explains that the structural bases of the learning process lie in the transactions among
these four adaptive modes and the way in which the adaptive dialectics get resolved
(41). The concrete/abstract pair symbolizes the ways of taking hold of experience, either
11
experience is always confronted with that already possessed. Thus, ones job as an
educator is not only to implant new ideas but also to dispose of or modify old ones
(Kolb 28). Thirdly, the process of learning requires the resolution of conflicts between
dialectically opposed modes of adaptation to the world(29). Acquisition of new
knowledge, skills, or attitudes takes place through confrontation among four modes of
experiential
learning
(concrete
experience,
reflective
observation,
abstract
13
Furthermore, not all experiences are good or positive to the learner. Dewey states
that any experience is mis-educative that has the effect of arresting of distorting the
growth of further experience (Dewey in Moon 107). Beard and Wilson offer a practical
example, that as trainers and educators, we often come across people saying that
something cannot be done, however, on further enquiry, it is sometimes the case that
the person has had a negative experience and does not wish to repeat it (27). A number
of factors that may cause such negative experience have been identified by Boud and
Walker. Among these are for example presuppositions about what is and is not possible
for us to do, not being in touch with ones assumptions and what is one able to do,
already mentioned past negative experiences, expectations of others: society, peer
group, figures of authority, family, threats to the self, ones own world view, or to
ways of behaving, having lack of self-awareness of ones place in the world, not
being prepared adequately, being in hostile and impoverished environments, not
having enough time for a task, being influenced by external pressures and demands,
lack of support from others and lack of skills: in noticing, intervening, having an
14
The uniqueness involves not only the past experience of the learner but also the
unconscious choice of stimuli the learners attention is paid to. As a result, two people
receiving the same stimulus are likely not to respond in the same way. Each of them
chooses (consciously or subconsciously) what to perceive and how to respond to it.
Boud, Cohen and Walker summarize the relationship between an experience, previous
experiences and perceptions in this way:
Learning always relates, in one way or another, to what has gone before.
There is never a clean slate on which to begin; unless new ideas and new
experience link to previous experience, they exist as abstractions, isolated and
without meaning. The effects of experience influence all learning. What we are
attracted towards, what we avoid and how we go about the task, is dependent
on how we have responded in the past. Earlier experiences that had positive or
15
According to Pelnek, this point of view also makes Kolbs learning cycle look
rather like a spiral than a circle, for learners should never come again to the same
situation. Although they stand again at the same point (e.g. concrete experience stage),
they are different people than last time, changed by what they previously experienced.
16
Concerning the four stages, Honey and Mumford explained that a person can start at
any stage, not just the Stage 1. However, it is important to go through all the four stages
to complete the process. Otherwise, the learning process is not complete, and therefore
not meaningful as an experience (for example when people develop a theory that
speaking any foreign language can create misunderstandings, and never learn to speak
any other language apart from their native one). The theory needs to be confirmed by
experimentation, or it does not make sense in terms of learning (Beard and Wilson 33).
Kolbs description of the learning styles closely follows the four forms of knowledge
explained in 2.2 (convergent, divergent, assimilative, accomodative). Kolb and his
colleague Fry thus called them converger, diverger, assimilator, and accomodator.
Details about each of the learning styles as summmarized by Smith are given in the next
paragraph.
A converger uses primarily abstract conceptualization and active experimentation.
People with the convergent style of learning are good at using ideas practically, can
think hypo-deductively about specific problems, are less emotional and have narrow
scope of interests. A divergers learning strengths are concrete experience and reflective
observation. People of this type have powerful imagination, can suggest a number of
ideas about a certain problem, are able to look at things from different points of view,
care for other people and their interests are broad, especially concerning culture. An
assimilators dominant learning abilities are abstract conceptualization and reflective
observation. These people excel in constructing theoretical models, tend to use inductive
thinking, however, are more interested in abstract models than people. Finally, an
accomodator uses mainly concrete experience and active experimentation. The main
virtue of people with the accomodative style is doing things, they enjoy risks, do not
mind immediate changes in situations and react intuitively (Smith).
Honey and Mumford depicted the four basic learning styles similarly to Kolb,
however, they used different names. What Kolb called converger, Honey and Mumford
called pragmatist. Kolbs diverger is Honey and Mumfords reflector, similarly
assimilator matches to theorist and accomodator to activist. Their characteristics of
activists is that they prefer to involve themselves in an experience and do so in an
open-minded manner, in addition, they involve themselves with the activity first and
then weigh up the implications of their actions afterwards (Beard and Wilson 34).
Reflectors prefer to gather information and carefully consider it before reaching a
conclusion, they are also thoughtful and cautious, and tend to reserve judgement in
17
meetings until they are reasonably sure about their conclusions (Beard and Wilson 34).
Theorists as described by Honey and Mumford tend to be systems people who gather
information and attempt to develop a coherent theory about the experience, moreover,
they are logical and prefer to analyse information and produce an encompassing
theory (Beard and Wilson 34). Finally, pragmatists prefer to apply theories and
techniques to investigate if they work, they are realistic people who seek out improved
methods of operating (Beard and Wilson 34).
Kolb states that learning styles are conceived not as fixed personality traits but as
possibility-processing structures resulting from unique individual programming of the
basic but flexible structure of human learning(97). Thus, a learning style influences
what a particular person chooses to do, however, it is shaped by not only personality
dispositions but also specialization, career, demands of the current occupation and
specific tasks the person is to fulfill at the time. Therefore, a person is likely to change
the learning styles during his or her life to achieve what he or she wants to.
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3. Experiential courses
3.1 Characteristics
Although experiential courses and events differ one from another significantly, a few
characteristics have been developed to describe what most of them share.
Pelnek introduced a list of such characteristics, however, he pointed out that an
experiential course or event does not always have to fulfil all of them. According to his
work, the first important feature is temporality a course or event should last a given
amount of time, without interruption. Secondly, the use of experience, adventure and
nontraditional activities occurs, followed by discussions and reflection. Thirdly, a course
or event is prepared beforehand by a group of instructors. Fourthly, it is organized for a
specific group of people, usually less then 30, who form a team during the stay. Fifthly,
an experiential course is usually located in some place surrounded by nature or other
interesting settings. Sixthly, the actual programme is intensive, organized by instructors
and not known by the participants in advance. It is carefully designed to fulfil the aims
of the course or event. The seventh feature is the diversity of the activities proposed
(physical as well as creative and educational tasks). Last of these features is the
atmosphere, which is usually strong, containing mystery, romance, surprise (Pelnek
11).
Martin, Franc and Zounkov offer a different point of view, closely connected to
their own courses. The key elements of the experiential education process contain
course objectives (personal development, interpersonal effectiveness), course design
(holistic approach, variety of activities involving reflection), learning environment
(physical and emotional safety, positive and supportive atmosphere) and participants
and instructors (a diverse group of participants, instructor facilitaion methods). Martin
discusses the elements in details:
The instructors, along with the development of trust and the group
dynamics among participants, are important factors in the creation of a
positive, friendly atmosphere and supportive learning environment that is
physically and emotionally safe. The use of a variety of activities aims to
challenge participants mentally, physically and emotionally (mind, body and
soul). Outdoor activities, creative workshops and structured and non-structured
20
Comparing the two points of view, both agree that at an experiential course, a
variety of activities including reflection plays an important role as well as the work of
instructors and a strong atmosphere which makes the course a remarkable experience
not only for the participants.
3.2 Aims
The aims of an experiential course may differ remarkably as well as the
characteritics. According to Pelnek, the main reason to organize experiential courses is
that they aim to provide a meaningful way of spending free time, expecting the
participants to be active. Among other goals he mentions the opportunity to meet new
people and make new friends, build relationships among members of particular groups,
the development of social skills as well as physical skills and abilities, the development
of creativity and imagination, a time spent in contact with nature, discovering nature and
countryside, the development of self-knowledge, the opportunity to leave behind the
daily routine and think about the direction and goals of ones own life, inspiration,
motivation for life, entertainment, good or useful recollections (Pelnek 12).
On the other hand, Martin argues that the main course objectives are deliberately
wide, focusing on personal growth and interpersonal development, allowing each
individual to discover his or her own sub-objectives.
3.3 Dramaturgy
In recent years, due to an holisctic approach to the experiential education,
dramaturgy has been used for course design with growing frequency. Since the holistic
approach suggests that the experiential learning process is influenced by the interaction
of instructors, participants, the learning environment and the activities, dramaturgy
seems to be a very creative and useful way how to link these parts together to create a
meaningful whole. Dramaturgy is used to prepare and organize the course in a way that
maximizes the effects.
This term, known rather from the sphere of theatre, film and TV, became
one of the most often-used in recent years. Dramaturgy is a method of selection
21
and time order of the activities with the aim to reach the maximal pedagogical
effect. It integrates, within itself, the questions (and also answers) concerning
the participants on the course (their age, mental and physical maturity), time
and space. The key thing for all dramaturgy considerations is to determine and
realise the pedagogical, educational, recreational and other aims which the
course wants to reach. (Holec in Martin, Franc and Zounkov 17)
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message to the listeners who, although they are mostly passive, can feel the meaning and
are influenced by it.
Logical-mathematical intelligence is much more connected to physical reality than
the linguistic and musical one. Beginning with counting and manipulating objects,
children learn the first algebraic rules and although they are later able to use symbols
instead of real objects, the roots of the logical-mathematical skills remain in the physical
world. People who are talented in this way can see relations among different logical and
mathematical rules rather than remember the rules themselves, for the connections help
them to form the rules again any time without memorizing. This intelligence involves all
natural sciences such as physics, chemistry and biology.
Spatial intelligence is also connected to the world of physical objects. It employs
mainly the spatial imagination, which is used for solving different tasks such as
comparing intricate patterns to see if they are similar, rotating unusual objects in ones
own mind or playing blindfold chess. However, connection to words is also possible, for
example when giving or receiving instructions or directions. Spatial skills are needed in
arts for people such as painters and sculptors, in science for physicists, chemists or
biologists as well as in many technical branches. In a number of aboriginal societies, this
intelligence is valued especially in terms of travelling in difficult landscapes (such as
deserts, glaciers and seas).
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, the last of the itelligences directly linked to the
material world, represents the abilities of controlling ones own body and manipulating
objects in a skilful way. It includes both gross and fine motor skills. This intelligence is
vital for a wide range of activities such as dancing, acting, sports, crafts or playing
musical instruments, nevertheless, to perform each of these activities successfully, other
intelligences are vital as well.
The two personal intelligences, intrapersonal and interpersonal, are culturally
dependent and have numerous forms around the world. A person with intrapersonal
intelligence can recognize his or her feelings precisely and is able to understand his or
her own inner emotional life. Moreover, such people remeber important life experiences
well so they are able to advise the others (e.g. wise elderly advisors in aboriginal tribes).
On the other hand, interpersonal intelligence is based on observing the other people,
discovering their moods, motivations, intentions and using the information in contact
with them. Although both the personal intelligences are closely related, develop together
and influence one another, they can be distinguished by a number of features such as
25
their focus (inside the person or outside on the others) or separate disorders of each of
them.
Gardners theory was originally designed for psychologists, however, when
educators started to take interest in it, Gardner cooperated with them and became an
advisor for numerous MI Schools around the world.
26
PRACTICAL PART
27
assumed that the assistants, although not being at Frytk for the first time, improved
their ability to speak English and developed their didactic and organizational skills.
Furthermore, since the assistants were taken to help with the course, I expected them
being helpful to the teachers. To complete the description of the course, I needed
information about the regular activities from the leaders of the sessions. In addition, I
asked the assistants and teachers about their reasons to organize or join the Wonderland
course, and what they liked about it.
These assumptions were the basics for my research about the course. The conclusion
summarizes if they proved valid or not.
29
2.1 Venue
As was already stated, the course took place in Dm Ignce Stuchlho in Frytk,
which is a three storey house that serves as a centre for young people, either as a club
which they use for meetings or regular activities, or as a hostel where they can stay for a
couple of days. The staff of the house also offers their own courses, varying from
teambuilding ones for school groups to weekend and vacational ones, including sport,
creative and religious activities.
Apart from dormitories, the main hall and the dining hall which are necessary, a bar,
a climbing wall, chapel, playground and a garden belong to this place. Being in charge
of their own educational activities, they have a wide variety of materials and tools that
can be borrowed, e.g. ropes and already made rope elements. This is very helpful, for in
the case of the Wonderland course, two activities (Out of the minds, The suicide club)
were directly dependent on these supplies.
During the course, the names of rooms and places were changed according to the
Wonderland topic (Sherwood, Tweedledees House, Camelot, The Rabbit Hole, The
Chamber of Secrets, The Lion and The Unicorn, Queens Kitchen, Looking glass).
These were invented by the teachers and the assistants and helped to create the
Wonderland atmosphere.
Pelnek in his list of characteristics of experiential courses mentions that they are
usually located to a place surrounded by nature or other interesting settings. The
building itself is near the Frytk town square, so it actually takes some time to reach the
30
nature. However, it was possible to use the woods around Frytk for outdoor activities
when needed and the participants could, apart from the activity itself, enjoy the walk
there and back.
2.2 Participants
According to the Information system of the Masaryk University, twenty of the
participants were students of the full time double subject study programme at the
Department of English Language and Literature, nine of them were students of the
single subject study programme (Foreign Language Assistant English) at the same
department. Also one student of special education at the Faculty of Education
participated in the course, and one student from the Faculty of Sports Studies was
present.
This course was an excellent opportunity to meet a student of English with hearing
impairment. As a participant, she had an interpreter, however, the interpreter
communicated with her in Czech sign language, which did not help her English.
Therefore, the participants were encouraged to write to her instead of speaking as often
as was possible. Some of the activities had to be adapted for her, using for example
written instructions or different tasks concerning musical activities.
A special group of participants came with some of the teachers and one assistant.
These were eight children and three babysitters taking care of them. The children had a
separate programme, however, they attended some of the regular activities adapted for
them (e.g. Doggie and pussy cat, Out of the minds). They also enjoyed three evening
stories (Eveningers) prepared for them by the three groups of adult participants.
teachers roles were created, including the Bad Queen, the Prince and seven Snowhites
(Linguistic Snowhite, Musical Snowhite, Logical-mathematical Snowhite, Spatial
Snowhite,
Bodily-kinesthetic
Snowhite,
Intrapersonal
Snowhite,
Interpersonal
Snowhite). The assistants became the Seven Dwarfs (Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy,
Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy) and at a certain point of the course they also choose one
intelligence each, although otherwise they were called by their dwarf names. The
participants were divided into three groups, impersonating the characters from either
The Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, or Winnie the Pooh.
develop didactic competences (show students how they can organize summer
camps or kola v prod where English is taught in a non-traditional way
games, projects, hands-on activities, outdoor activities)
teambuilding (in the past the groups that participated in similar courses worked
together and with the teachers better for the rest of their studies) (Mood-link-a:
Wonderland October 2009)
The first two points are rather special because they do not match to the usual aims of
most experiential courses. Instead, they reflect the objectives of the Department of
English Language and Literature where most of the students and all the teachers at the
course were from. Thus, the aims of the course formed a unique combination of the
general goals of peoples studies at the department (English and education) and the basic
aims of experiential courses that are represented by the last two points. These points
match to Pelneks as well as Martins view of objectives of an experiential course
(personal growth and interpersonal development).
32
34
they were expected to do in English as much as was possible. So not only speak, but
also sing, think, dream etc.
As the last question for the leaders was: What do we do with these things that say
Eat me and Drink me?, the next activity was eating the magic cakes (Czech
buchtas) and drinking mead similarly to what Alice did in the first chapter of Alices
Adventures in Wonderland.
3.3.2 Icebreakers
Icebreakers are interactive and often fun sessions run before the main proceedings
that should help people get to know each other and buy into the purpose of the event
(Ice Breakers). To achieve this, four icebreakers focused on different types of
information and ways of contact with the others were prepared.
Firstly, to find out some very general information, an activity called Where do you
come from? was proposed. Having imagined the room as a map of Czech Republic,
everybody stood at the place they came from. Those who stood somewhere far from the
average places were asked to say the place of their origin (e.g. people from Slovakia,
America).
The next icebreaker was AB Line, a very variable game that asks participants to
form a line of people according to some criterion. In Frytk, the criterion was the age
(from the youngest to the oldest), and all the participants had to stand on chairs, not
being allowed to touch anything but the chairs and the other players. Apart from
showing the approximate age of the people, this was the first game that required very
close physical contact and mutual trust.
To focus slightly on names and preferences of all the people present, the changing of
Pocket-size objects related to their childhood was introduced. Passing the objects to
others, the name of the thing and its original owner stayed the same, however, the name
of the actual holder constantly changed with the objects moving from person to person.
This confused most of the people so when they were eventually asked to say their name,
present the object they were holding and return it back to whom it belonged, the real
owners name was often mistaken. Nevertheless, the game was an opportunity to
discover peoples names while having fun with the pocket-size talismans.
I like chocolate! is an example of a statement useful for the game Change Seats.
The players have to change places when they agree with what has been just said. One of
35
them always remains in the middle, inventing the next sentence. This icebreaker helps
people recognize who shares some of their hobbies (I like singing!), ways of life (I
am a vegetarian!) or has whatever else that was said.
group even found a way to integrate the Czech sign language into their activity, making
a memory competition in it.
The last activity, a fun game called Go fish, was introduced by the teachers, so that
the students could enjoy something more than they had prepared. At the beginning of
the game, each person was asked to write a statement, a question and an exclamatory
sentence on separate sheets of paper. The sheets were collected into a box that
represented a pond in the middle of the circle. Two of the teachers, given the
information who they were, where they were and what they were talking about, were
sitting around the pond, having a humorous conversation. Whenever they heard their
name and Go fish!, they had to take out a piece of paper from the pond, read the
chosen sentence aloud and integrate it into their conversation as naturally as possible.
The students were obviously having fun while watching the dialogues.
award the winning ones. Similarly to the Caucus-Race in the third chapter of Alices
Adventures in Wonderland that EVERYBODY has won, and all must have prizes (A
Caucus-Race and a Long Tale), also the films were all winning and all participants got
awards. Moreover, The Seven Snowhites and The Dwarf, a movie shot by the teachers
during the free afternoon, was introduced at the end.
All the movies were quite original and the evening was full of fun and pride in all
the elaborate masterpieces. In addition, each participant could get a copy of them to
have a souvenir from the course that would always remind him or her of the experience.
3.7.2 Eveninger
The result of the activity Are you sitting comfortably? Then Ill begin, the actual
storytelling for children, was called the Eveninger as a translation of Czech
Veernek, an everyday evening TV cartoon for children. Three evening stories, two on
Tuesday and one on Thursday, successfully entertained the smallest participants before
going to bed. Moreover, the students in the role of storytellers could see if their choice
of the story and the way they presented it worked well. The immediate experience, an
opportunity to try working with real children, gave them the feedback about what they
managed to do and what they should do differently when meeting children the next time.
40
rhymes lead them. It employs not only the body, but also the language skills, especially
pronunciation, and word usage in creating the rhymes.
Mgr. Pavla Buchtov (Spatial Snowhite) describes that the lesson started with
stretching, then some games with long ropes were played. Continually, the students
started to jump while chanting jump rope rhymes and at the end they spent some time
inventing their own rhymes.
Some examples of the jump rope rhymes as found on the recommended website
Streetplay.com are presented in Appendix 6.
not climb the elements, they were needed for spotting those who climbed. Although the
climbing naturally proved to be dangerous in some aspects, most of the participants
seemed to be satisfied.
42
Doc. Mgr. Svtlana Hanuov, Ph.D. (Interpersonal Snowhite) who was in charge of
the activity together with Logical-mathematical Snowhite, adds some details:
I enjoyed team teaching it with Sonia. In terms of Multiple Intelligences, the activity offered
various possibilities. It really depended very much on the students and the way they presented
the chosen childrens book. Most of the time the activity appealed to linguistic, intrapersonal,
bodily-kinesthetic and visual-spatial intelligences.
The participants mentioned this activity was helpful in terms of their language and it
gave them inspiration for their own teaching. Lesson plan of this activity taken from the
Mood-link-a website of the course can be found in Appendix 7.
43
an end was needed that would finish the whole-course activities (Guardian angel and
mail boxes), provide the possibility to reflect on the experiences, and gently let people
part with the others and leave. Therefore, the final evaluation had a few parts. Firstly, it
was the feedback from the participants and the assistants, gathered by the questionnaires
and oral feedback from the groups (what they liked, what they disliked, what they would
change about the course). Secondly, the guardian angels and protectees were revealed,
at first leaving space for guesses (I thought it was you), then the real angels telling
their protectees who they were. Thirdly, the Dwarfs composed and recited a poem
about the whole course, and finally, everybody sang a song (In The Jungle) that was
taught during the With a smile and a song musical option as a goodbye to Wonderland.
45
70%
of
the
participants
Fig. 1
Inform ation
System
Teachers
Friends
Com pulsory
course
most of the students found the course through the Information system. Possible reason
for this is that as almost 68% of total number of participants were in the first year of
their studies, they had not had enough acquaintances to tell them about the course or
recommend it. Thus, the most probable source was the web.
The questionnaires provided a
Fig. 2
English
Obligation
New friends
Future teaching
Having fun
Interesting, new
experience
Other
students (studying single subject English study programme), the courses were
obligatory, so they did not have a chance to decide whether to go or not. However, the
chart shows also other reasons to come apart from the language, and their frequency is
quite well-balanced. Those who arrived on Monday to Frytk apparently expected
more than just a language course, although their ideas about it were different.
46
expectations,
86%
of
the
Fig. 3
who
answered
that
Yes
their
No
Partly
Fun
Activities
aspects
Other people
Team w ork
All English
Policy
Teachers
of
the
course.
The
Atm osphere
Food
linguistic,
artistic
and
other
nobody is bored at. Some of the elements were planned and could have been influenced
(e.g. fun, activities, the All English policy, teachers behaving nicely, good food with a
vegetarian option, low and high ropes courses), other things appeared on their own (the
atmosphere, other friendly people) and were not less important in the final effect of the
course.
The improvement of English was confirmed by 90% of the participants, 54%
regarded it as definite, 36% thought they had improved their English only partly. The
most significant development was reported in fluency in speaking, in getting more open
and confident and becoming less afraid of using English in communication. The
participants also learned new vocabulary and phrases and used English in practical
situations. However, more time and new vocabulary would have been appreciated.
47
Fig. 5
All English
Policy
Wild about
Books
Are You
Sitting
Com fortably?
Weaving
Magic
thus of the biggest importance. Nevertheless, other activities, some of which were not
even directly aimed at learning the language, also worked very well.
The
Fig. 6
Doggie and
Pussy Cat
Kanga and Roo
investigation
of
the
Wild about
Books
Stories
Unbound
With a Sm ile
and a Song
Hot Chair
Weaving m agic
in
the
questionnaires,
Everything
that the programme fulfilled one of its aims, that was to develop didactic
competences.
Most of the activities were new for about 54% of the participants. About 27% of
them had never shot a movie without limits before and about 18% had not seen rope
jumping with rhymes.
When dealing with teamwork and relationships, all (100%) of the participants
thought the course helped them to become a better team within their group, however, not
all of them were leaving with the feeling they know more about each person that was
48
present at the course (fig. 7). The question was if they thought they knew more about the
people from their fairytale
group, people from the
other
groups,
assistants
Fig. 7
25
20
15
Yes
10
No
answers
colleagues
about
the
from
their
Your group
Other
groups
Assistants
Teachers
49
reason of better cooperation, easier opportunities to seek advice when needed and
knowing how to cope with them.
The fact that some parts of the course were challenging was confirmed by 59% of
the participants, 63% of them agreed that they had learned something new about
themselves. The challenges that were mentioned most often were the necessity of
speaking English in front of others, the effort put in the teambuilding tasks, the Weaving
Magic session and the low and high ropes courses. The new things learnt were mostly
concerning the opinion of the group about individuals, the skill of cooperation, and the
discovery that they were able to use English in any situation during the whole course.
The most important suggestions for possible changes were that the course should be
longer, there should be more optional activities during the free time but actually there
should be more of the free time since some of the participants claimed they often felt
tired. As these suggestions are to a large extent contradictory, it would be difficult to
make use of all of them. In fact, the stay was obviously long enough to make most
people quite tired, but short enough to survive the feeling of exhaustion.
The comments at the end of the questionnaire were mostly encouraging. Thank
you, well done and good luck are examples of the short ones. The longer ones
were even more heartsome.
I really enjoyed this course. It was exhausting but I loved to become a child for a
while again.
I really love the idea of mailboxes, it made me feel comfortably.
This course was really useful and funny for me (I think that also for others) and I
really enjoyed it. Thank you.
50
Although as assistants they found the preparations before the course exhausting
sometimes, they enjoyed all the work as well as the tasks needed to be done later during
the course. The Dwarfs loved the course, however, not all of them always felt a part of
the team. In spite of the fact that they learned a lot about the other Dwarfs (as they wrote
in the questionnaire), it was an important discovery that the assistants need to find the
time to pay at least some attention to their team and all its members, otherwise the group
might have problems.
As the leaders of the low and high ropes activities, five of the Dwarfs included them
into the three things they liked most about the course. These favourite items contained
also the Night game (which was prepared by three of them), the evening programmes
and the Stories Unbound and Kanga and Roo sessions. It was mainly thanks to all the
preparations, the ropes courses and the Night game that the Dwarfs had become a better
team where all of them finally enjoyed working.
All the assistants confirmed they know the participants and the teachers better after
the course. Most of them agreed that it is worth knowing that teachers are also people
and that the relationships among all the people present at the course help them build a
better environment back at school.
The didactic and organizational skills were used and developed very much, for the
Night game, ropes courses and activities with children were really demanding. Viktorie
Kobelov (Bashful) comments: I stopped being scared of talking in front of the crowds;
not so Bashful anymore.
The Dwarfs agreed that as far as their English was concerned, the course was an
excellent opportunity to practise speaking and thinking in English. Moreover, the
discovery of the right pronunciation of the word penguin was overwhelming.
Due to the ropes courses, most of the Dwarfs unfortunately did not have enough
opportunities to participate in the regular activities, which they felt was a pity.
Therefore, the inspiration for their teaching was narrowed by their possibilities to visit
the programme with the participants. However, some of them suggested they would use
the ideas of the Kanga and Roo session, the Weaving Magic, Doggie and Pussy Cat and
the Go Fish game.
When suggesting changes, the main topic was that the assistants would have liked to
be more involved in the programme with the participant fairytale groups and also they
would like to have the opportunity to come as assistants again. An idea of an evening
devoted mainly to singing was proposed as well.
51
and acted as a bridge between teachers and students. However, their wider
engagement in regular activities (at least some of them) was suggested, to let them feel
useful and to benefit from the atmosphere more.
53
Conclusion
The purpose of the theoretical part of this thesis was to explore the theory that
underpinns experiential language courses, especially the courses organized in Frytk by
the Department of English Language and Literature at the Masaryk University Faculty
of Education. The practical part was aimed at describing and evaluating the Wonderland
October 2009 intensive experiential course.
The theoretical part presents a number of important features of an experiential
language course. The Communicative Approach stresses the importance of using
language in meaningful communication. Due to the All English policy the students at
the Wonderland October 2009 course had to use their English all the time. Thus the
course was definitely helpful for their communication skills, which was also confirmed
by the research. The experiential learning theory suggests that an holistic approach
should be used. Apart from knowledge, an experiential learning event should be
concerned also with the development of skills and attitudes. The course at Frytk was
aimed at giving the participants a chance to develop not only the language but also their
personalities and relations with others. However, the research showed that the language
development was the most evident, and the intrapersonal one was the least successful
among the aims. The Wonderland October 2009 course possessed most of the
characteristics that are presented in Pelneks and Martins theory of experiential
courses. It was temporal (five days without interruption), a variety of nontraditional
activities was used, the programme was intensive, prepared beforehand by the
instructors and most of it remained secret for the participants till they experienced it.
The course was planned to fulfil certain goals and it had a strong, friendly and
supportive atmosphere. Although it was organized for a specific group of people, they
apparently did not form a single team but rather three teams during the stay. Also, the
programme of the course had to be designed in a way that prioritized the instructors
needed for certain activities more than the dramaturgy rules. As a result of this
complicated logistics, it would be rather difficult to adapt the programme to actual needs
of the participants. Nevertheless, it was actually not needed. The course ran very well,
there were only little changes in the scenario (such as adding the Suicide club (high
ropes course) during the free afternoon). The changes, however, confirmed that in spite
54
of all careful planning, the reality at the course would be most likely different than was
expected.
The research that the practical part deals with was based on certain assumptions
presented in the introduction to that part. The investigation showed that some of my
assumptions about the course were valid, some were not.
As was already discussed in connection with the theory, the course certainly helped
the participants with their English, mainly in the area of speaking and using the
language for meaningful communication. It also gave them inspiration for their teaching
careers, as most of them were determined to use at least some of the experiences with
their students or pupils. The course was definitely enjoyable, however, the assumption
about getting to know more about all the people present at the course was not confirmed.
The participants claimed they certainly knew more about the people from their group
and the teachers, however, more then half of them did not think they knew more about
the people outside their group and the assistants after the course. Nevertheless, the
individual groups definitely worked better as teams than before. More than a half of the
participants agreed they experienced challenges and learned something new about
themselves.
The assistants considered the course a useful opportunity to get to know the teachers
and participants closer. Although they formed a hardworking team, their cooperation
was sometimes challenging due to a lack of time to realize and discuss the problems.
From the assistants point of view, the course was an opportunity to practise the
organizational and didactic skills as well as their English. The teachers considered them
very helpful in preparing and organizing the course.
The teachers also agreed the course was a real chance to meet their students as well
as their colleagues and get to know them better. They found it a useful way to improve
the cooperation and mutual understanding among the people at the Department of
English Language and Literature. Moreover, the course helped them to form a better
team among themselves.
Since most of the assumptions were proved valid, I think the course was not only
successful in fulfilling its aims and the theoretical principles but also it was a unique
experience for all who were present. Such courses are more than just a language
excercise, since the impact on the community is undeniable.
55
Bibliography
AJ_IJKZ Intenzivn jazykov kurz. Information system of the Masaryk University.
Masaryk University, 25 Nov. 2009. Web. 25 February 2010.
Artess, Jane. How adults really learn or what we think we know about how they
learn! Centre for Learning and Teaching. Manchester Metropolitan University,
July 2003. Web. 14 March 2010.
Beard, Colin, and John P. Wilson: Experiential Learning: A Best Practice Handbook for
Educators and Trainers. 2nd ed. London: Kogan Page, 2006. Print.
Brumfit, Christopher J. and Keith Johnson, eds. The Communicative Approach to
Language Teaching. 1979. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983. Print.
Carroll, Lewis. Alices Aventures in Wonderland. The Project Gutenberg, 25 June 2008.
Web. 2 April 2010.
Dm Ignce Stuchlho SKM o. s. Frytk. DIS Frytk, n.d. Web. 28 February 2010.
Experience. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. 2nd ed. 1984. Print.
Gardner, Howard. Dimenze mylen: Teorie rozmanitch inteligenc. Trans. Eva
Votavov. Praha: Portl, 1999. Print.
Gardner, Howard. The 25th anniversary of the publication of Howard Gardners
Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Howard Gardner: Hobbs
Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Howard Gardner, April 2008. Web. 5 April 2010.
Gentry, James W. Guide to business Gaming and Experiential Learning. Bernie Keys
Library. Wayne State University's School of Business Administration, 1990. Web.
14 February 2010.
Ice Breakers. Communication Skills Training from MindTools.com. Mind Tools, n.d.
Web. 17 March 2010.
Kolb, David A. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and
Development. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1984. Print.
Littlewood, William. Communicative Language
Cambridge University Press, 1994. Print.
Teaching.
1981.
Cambridge:
Martin, Andy, Dan Franc, and Daniela Zounkov. Outdoor and experiential learning:
an holistic and creative approach to programme design. London: Gower, 2004.
Print.
Moon, Jennifer A. A handbook of reclective and experiential learning: theory and
practice. 2004. London: Routledge Falmer, 2005. Print.
56
57
Appendices
Appendix 1: Timetables
Appendix 2: Invitation letter
Appendix 3: Find someone who
Appendix 4: Press conference
Appendix 5: Rhymes to jump by
Appendix 6: Wild about books
Appendix 6a: Wild about books lesson plan
Appendix 6b: Wild about books handouts
Appendix 7: Soul in the looking glass
Appendix 8: Questionnaires
Appendix 8a: Participants questionnaire
Appendix 8b: Assistants questionnaire
Appendix 8c: Teachers questionnaire
Appendix 9: Photos
58
Appendix 1: Timetables
Monday:
Dinner: 18.00
Evening programme: 19.00
Press Conference
Eat Me + Drink Me
Icebreakers
Scavenger Hunt
Guardian Angel
Mail Boxes (cloth bags)
Tuesday
Breakfast: 7.30
Morning circle programme: expectations, reflections of icebreakers
7.00
7.30
12.15
14
LUNCH
Weaving
magic
Wild about
books
14.
15.30
15.45.
17.15
17.30
18.00
13.30
15.30
Out of
the
minds.
Stories
unbound
Soul in
the
looking
glass
Eveninger
Kanga
and Roo
Eveninger
Weaving Weaving
magic
magic
Dinner: 18.00
19.00 Evening programme: dances (Irish, Scottish, square, belly)
Wednesday:
Breakfast: 7.30
Morning circle programme: reflections of activities, methodological implications
7.00 7.30 8.15 8.55 9 10.30 10.45. 12.45 12.15 14
Morning OPTIONS
LUNCH
circle
morning Cinderella
Stories
exercises,
unbound
aerobics
Soul in the
Little Red
looking glass
Riding
Hood
Winnie the
Pooh
14. 18
FREE AFTERNOON
Students prepare activities
for the evening
Doggie and
pussy cat
Dinner 18.00
Evening programme 19.00 Students' evening + one activity by the teachers (Go fish)
Night game Snowhite 10 pm
59
Thursday
Breakfast: 7.30
Morning circle: reflections of activities
7.00 7.30
morning
exercises,
aerobics
8.15 8.55
Morning
circle
Cinderella
Little Red
Riding
Hood
9
10.30
10.45.
12.15
Doggie
and
pussy
cat
Wild
about
books
Kanga
and
Roo
10.45
12.45
Out of
the
minds
Winnie the Kanga Soul in
and Roo
the
Pooh
looking
glass
12.15
14
LUNCH
14. 15.30
15.45.
17.15
Weaving
magic
Weaving
magic
Are you
sitting
comfortably?
Doggie and
pussy cat
Are you
13.30 15.30
Out of the
sitting
minds
comfortably?
17:30
18.00
Eveninger
Dinner 18.00
Evening Films
Friday:
Breakfast: 7.30
Morning circle programme: reflections of activities, Hot chair, methodological
implications
7.00 7.30
morning
exercises,
aerobics
8.15 8.55
Morning
circle
Cinderella
9 10.30
10.45. 12.15
Hot chair
Little Red
Riding Hood
Winnie the
Pooh
Hot chair
Final
evaluation
12.00
LUNCH
Hot chair
60
http://www.snark.de/carroll/alice/alice1.html
61
62
question should be: Can we ask anything else? and the answer is of course yes.
Notes: Instructors should have the complete list of questions (in case that the asking
procedure gets stuck) and prepared answers. If the participants level of English isnt
high, one of the instructors can be there in the role of interpreter and can interpret a
question which is in Czech or something that was too difficult to understand in English.
The reason for this allowance of Czech is based on the fact that it is crucial so that
everybody understand the information.
List of the questions:
1. How are you?
2. Can we speak Czech?
3. Whats the difference between course and curse?
4. Is there any particular time when we have to go to sleep or get up?
5. Why are you here?
6. What does this All English Policy mean?
7. Do we have to go through every activity?
8. How do we get to know when and where to go?
9. Are you single?
10. When are we going home?
11. Can we feel safe here or will we face any dangers?
12. Are we going to have any free time?
13. Can you tell us something about the structure of our course?
14. What are the objectives of the course? Will we be tested anyhow? What do we get
the credit for?
15. What is dress code?
16. Do we really have to speak English all the time?
17. What is the A5 notebook for? (
18. Who are the assistants?
19. What is their job?
20. Can we ask anything else?
63
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, etc.
have.
wins.
I can do a split
etc.
etc.
65
1. Warm up
10
Ss will guess from our props the title of the story
Props: portable library, our costumes, books
whole class
2
Choose the book from the trolley (library), show some pictures, guess the content of
the story.
whole class
2
Give the title, two summaries (see the handout) they will guess which one is
correct - grps. of 3
4
Feedback
2. Task: Make a list of all the animals in the ZOO grps. of 3 , time limit 3 minutes
Feedback
4
3. Listen to the story check how many animals you had
Feedback
10
4. The competition guessing the animals from the book, choosing the group leaders
5. Books from the library give them time to choose
10 minutes reading, negotiations
6. Presentation preparation
Instructions: see the handout
25
7. Presentations
20
66
67
69
Appendix 8: Questionnaires
Appendix 8a: Participants questionnaire
Wonderland 26 30 0ctober 2009
Dear Wonderland graduates,
as I am writing my bachelor thesis about this Intensive experiential course, I would
like to ask you to help me and fill in this questionnaire. Its anonymous and the
information will be used only for my thesis. At the end of this questionnaire you can
find a list of all the things and activities you experienced here in Wonderland. If you
wish to comment on any of them, please feel free to do so.
Thank you very much!
Your Dwarf Sleepy (Markta Plockov)
1. Which is your fairytale?
a) Cinderella
b) Little Red Riding Hood
2. Had you heard about the Intensive Experiential Courses in Frytk before you
registered the subject in the IS?
a) yes
b) no
3. Where had you found out about this Wonderland 2009 fall course?
4. Why did you decide to go to the course? What did you expect from it?
5. Has the course fulfilled your expectations?
a) yes
b) no
c) no
7. Which three things did you like most about the course? Why?
8. Have you improved your English during the course? (if your answer is a) or b),
please specify how has your language improved and then continue, if c), please move to
question 11)
a) yes, definitely
b) partly
c) no
9. Which activities from the course do you find most helpful for improving your
English?
10. Do you plan to use any of the activities done here with your (future) pupils or
students?
a) no
b) yes which ones:
70
11. Which of the activities from the course were new for you?
12. Did the course help you to work more as a team within your group?
a) yes
b) no
13. Do you think you now know more about
a) students from your fairytale
b) students from the other fairytales
c) the Seven Dwarfs
d) Snowhites, the Bad Queen, and the Prince
a) yes
a) yes
a) yes
a) yes
b) no
b) no
b) no
b) no
16. Was there anything challenging for you that you managed to overcome? Have you
learned anything new about yourself?
71
72
5. Please describe in a few sentences the activity you led (what was it all about, what
activities did you do, which of the multiple intelligences were needed...).
6. Has the course helped you to know the participants (students) better? If so, do you
find it useful in any way?
7. Has the course helped you to know the other teachers better? Do you think you have
become a better team than before the course?
74
Appendix 9: Photos
Invitation team waiting for the participants to come
Eveninger
75
76
Final evaluation
77