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Transform Your EFL Classroom with TRIZ: Innovative Lesson Planning and Activities

Hey there, fellow English language teachers! It's been a while, but I've think I've got a pretty new and interesting idea for you.

Are you looking for creative ways to enhance your lesson planning and classroom activities? If so, you're in the right place. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to TRIZ, a systematic approach to problem-solving that can revolutionize the way you plan lessons and design activities for your English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. With real-life examples and a sprinkle of TRIZ magic, let's dive right in!

What is TRIZ? Originally developed for the engineering and technology fields, TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a powerful tool that can help you identify and solve problems in your teaching methods. With 40 inventive principles and a contradiction matrix, TRIZ encourages innovative thinking and can help you create engaging, dynamic lessons for your EFL students.

How can TRIZ be applied to EFL lesson planning? By adapting TRIZ principles to the EFL classroom, you can address common challenges and bring a fresh perspective to your teaching methods. Let's take a look at two examples of EFL activities that incorporate TRIZ principles:

Example 1: Vocabulary Building with "Segmentation" and "Another Dimension" Imagine you're teaching a set of new vocabulary words to intermediate-level students. You can apply Principle 1 (Segmentation) by dividing the words into smaller groups based on their part of speech or theme. This helps students organize their learning and makes the task more manageable.

Next, use Principle 17 (Another Dimension) to present each word with a definition, example sentence, and a visual aid (image, video, or GIF). Providing multiple dimensions helps students better understand and retain the new words.

Example 2: Collaborative Storytelling with "Merging" and "The Other Way Round" In this speaking and writing activity, students work in pairs or small groups to create a collaborative story. Apply Principle 5 (Merging) by combining grammar, vocabulary, and creativity in a single task, allowing students to practice multiple language skills.

Once the stories are complete, use Principle 13 (The Other Way Round) to have students switch roles within their groups and retell the story from a different character's perspective. This not only challenges students to use the target language in a new context but also fosters empathy and understanding.

Why should you consider using TRIZ in your EFL classroom? TRIZ offers a structured way to address teaching challenges and develop creative solutions. By incorporating TRIZ principles, such as "Dynamics" (Principle 15) and "Nested Doll" (Principle 7), you can create engaging, effective lessons that cater to your students' needs and promote long-term retention of language concepts.

In conclusion, embracing TRIZ in your EFL classroom can lead to innovative solutions and a more engaging learning experience for your students. By identifying problems and applying the 40 inventive principles, you can continuously improve your teaching methods and help your students achieve their language learning goals. So, go ahead and give TRIZ a try.

Additional reading:
- An organization that teaches English using TRIZ http://www.trizminsk.org/eng/
- The Thinking Approach Group which is based on TRIZ for teaching English and critical thinking skills http://www.ta-group.eu/thinking-approach

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