Innovative Teaching Trends: Why Flipped Classrooms are Thriving in 2024

There are many different ideas behind the various teaching methods that are used in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms and each of them have their own pros and cons. You are probably familiar with the PPP method of lesson planning, the use of Cuisenaire rods and even Dogme – all various techniques and methods that have become popular over the years. 

A new idea that emerged in the 1980s and is seeing a resurgence in popularity is that of flipped classrooms. The flipped classroom approach is particularly popular in EFL classrooms in China.

What is a flipped classroom?

Let us look at what exactly a flipped classroom is and why you would and wouldn’t want to have one.

A flipped classroom is also known as an inverted classroom. 

A flipped classroom is basically one where the student does a lot of the work at home. Class time is spent asking questions for clarification and discussion. 

In other words, it reverses what we would usually consider to be the classroom format: watching lectures or videos, reading texts or doing research at home and doing activities or exercises during class time. 

The content of the lessons is learnt at home by the student and the lessons are used to consolidate and demonstrate their new knowledge.

Flipping classrooms initially began in mainstream schools, but it can be easily adapted to the EFL classroom. 

Whatever you would usually give for homework can be done in class but your students need to prepare for that at home. 

To be more specific, let students read or listen to texts at home, and use those texts as sources of discussion in class. Let your students read grammar reference materials for homework, then spend time doing practice activities in class.

What are the benefits of a flipped classroom?

The benefits of this approach are many. 

Students can tackle material at home in their own time. These days, technology is a close friend of education. Online learning is a way we can transform our classrooms into flipped classrooms to increase the flexibility of the learning process.

Students can learn at their own pace. Teachers don’t have to deal with students who read or work at different paces. This helps alleviate some of the issues with having students of different levels in the same class. 

It allows the students to tackle the material how they want, without dictating how much time or how they should focus on the material. It is a student-centred approach which requires active learning. 

The teacher can help with real issues and difficulties students may have had at home, instead of twiddling thumbs while students read a text. More time can be spent on clarification and consolidation.  

Students can do research or preparation for a task that is to be done in class. Time in the lesson can be spent more fruitfully talking with other students or working with the teacher to solve a problem or discuss a topic.

Flipped classrooms have proven to increase student satisfaction with the learning environment. This method of learning and teaching promotes independent thinking, increases co-operation and engagement, and boosts learner motivation.

All in all, while some teachers may feel this approach has more difficulties than benefits, there are a number of advantages to this method and it’s worth a try.

Does a flipped classroom improve learning?

To date there hasn’t been any research conducted on the effectiveness of flipped classrooms on student learning. But anecdotal evidence suggests that it increases student motivation and engagement. 

How does a flipped classroom help with struggling students? It can help with struggling students by personalising the learning experience. Learning at your own pace benefits both high-performing students and those who need more help. It gives teachers the opportunity to focus on the specific needs of the individual students.

What are the problems with a flipped classroom?

Flipped classrooms have a few drawbacks – but mostly for the teacher.

Teachers need to be very well prepared to execute successful flipped lessons. They need to prepare in-class activities as well as create or curate related online materials. Teachers need to be comfortable with technology to utilise it effectively. Flipped classrooms initially require more work from the teacher, but this should improve with time and experience. 

All in all, a flipped classroom is a great idea for the EFL classroom if the teacher is up for the challenge!