MAGICAL Teacher's Guide - Book - Page 4
The following are theories underlying the Integrated Multisensory Language Teaching Methodology in
Magical:
Piaget’s Constructivist Theory
Children continually interact with the world around them through experiences and problems. Piaget
theorized that it is through these experiences that children construct knowledge. Magical is built on
activities in which children are required to use the new language to experience real life situations
and solve problems.
Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development Theory
Underlying Vygotskian Theory is the central observation that development and learning take place in
a social context, in a world where children interact and communicate with their environment. The
people around the children play an important role in helping them learn by bringing objects and
ideas to their attention, telling them stories, and asking and answering questions. The ability to learn
through instruction and mediation is a core characteristic to human intelligence. The adult helps the
child achieve what the child cannot achieve on his/her own. Vygotsky refers to this as the Zone of
Proximal Development – what the child can do with the help of an adult, and how this enables
him/her to progress.
Both Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories have had a clear impact on what teachers can do in the
language classroom to aid learning. The Magical Teacher’s Guide implements these important ideas
in explicit instructions for the teacher.
The Natural Approach to Language Learning
The Natural Approach sees language as developing using natural and meaningful contexts, rather
than a conscious learning of language and its structures.
Magical is built on the assumption that young learners are curious and, therefore, attracted by
interesting stories, situations, and characters. The program is built around engaging, age-appropriate
texts and stories, which stimulate children’s curiosity and allow for authentic communication.
The Integrated Multisensory Language Teaching Approach
Bejarano’s (1994) pedagogical concept is based on the firm connection between WHAT content is
included in the language teaching program and HOW that content is taught.
The
