Argumentative Essay

The importance of methodology at the moment of

planning a lesson

Daniela Melipilln Figueroa

Michael Ruiz Troncoso

August 26th, 2014

The importance of methodology at the moment of planning a lesson

Methodology is used by teachers to improve the shaping of lesson plans. It has
been changing along the time and not always just one definition is correct. There were
and are a large amount of authors with a variety of definitions that mean to be based on
the previous ones taking the most important ideas and creating a new sense for
Methodology. Our definition is based on what Celce Murcia (2001) understands for
methodology; that is to say, the planning lessons are worthy for teachers to follow a
guide of what they are going to do in their classes. These two elements help teachers in
what they have to do daily for improving. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to
clarify an appropriate definition of Methodology based on the authors and on our own
perspective, explaining why and how planning lessons increase learning and teaching.
First of all, our conception of methodology is appropriate because it integrates
the ideas that two important authors have about the concept. Celce Murcia (2001) and
Tamura (2006) have set definitions based on their own researches, and thus other
authors who are experts in the topic; however, a full contrast has to deal with all the
features of what methodology is. And the two definitions of the authors mentioned
before have a lack of one or two aspects that can be improved by creating a full
resolution integrating all the ideas in just one big explanation. Therefore, there is more
than one meaning for Methodology and those may be all correct or appropriate
according to the context in which the concept is applied, it means there is no one better
than the other.
According to us, Methodology is a science that has established a set of rules and
procedures. Tamura (2006) claims that teachers follow this, in order to teach and
enhance the process of teaching and naturally the process of learning; because it helps
them to find coherence in the procedure, providing them the knowledge that they need
to understand their students and categorized the weaknesses and strengths showed by
them in classes. Moreover, it also takes into account the right way to solve problems
that they, as teachers, might have in their teaching process; these problems have to
deal with the questions: What to teach? What are the aims? How to teach?
Consequently, it has to be said that a teacher must be committed to his/her work, it
includes: students, professionalism and vocation, to reach the aims planned by he or
she.
Continuing with our perspective, the process of lesson planning mentioned
previously improves teaching in different aspects that are going to be explained below.
Firstly, lesson plans deal, in a theoretical way, with the active role of the individuals

presented in a classroom, It is theoretical because expose what will supposedly be

done in class, where the students have to be motivated, exposed to the language and
make use of it; hence, lessons have to be planned to achieve tasks in order to teach
how to use the knowledge given and not just to memorize. Secondly, lesson plans help
teachers to keep the time and the aims organized, and based on the productivity of
these, lesson plans are also useful to foresee what they have to do in future lessons.
Therefore, a lesson plan has to be made in an objective and honest way; having in mind
that the process to design one, takes time and patience from the teacher, because
he/she must observe and evaluate their students carefully before to plan a class.
Furthermore, lesson planning is not just to enhance the performance of a teacher
in a classroom, though it also promotes learning in students. Considering, the didactic
relationship which deals with taking all the possible factors into contemplation in order to
approach the students to the contents. Besides, one of the requirements to reach what
was previously said is that teachers have to design a lesson plan having in mind the
kind of interaction between the students, who are going to be working, as classmates, in
a class. That is to say, whether they are going to work in pairs or groups, the gender of
these (that also makes an influence) and what types of personalities have the students
that are going to interact. Consequently, the objective is that the groups or the partners
present a variety of personalities and genders in favor of the benefits that students may
have; learning about different realities and helping each other.
To Conclude, in this essay has been reflected the importance of Methodology to
carry out a lesson plan. First of all, it was explained that the definitions for Methodology
depend on the context in which we apply the concept; therefore, it can be incorrect only
if it is not appropriate or does not contrast with the field in which it is applied.
Afterwards, we learnt that beyond the rules and methods that can be established to
execute a successful teaching class, all of it depends on the commitment that a teacher
has. Subsequently, it was also exposed the benefits that students have under the
teaching process of a good lesson plan, clarifying that these benefits were not only for
the teachers, but also for the students. In addition to what was specified above, we, as
teacher, have to ensure the proper development and performance of our students;
therefore, we have to acknowledge the importance of methodology at the moment to
teach.

References
Harmer, J. (2005). How to teach English: Planning Lessons. Longman: Pearson
Education.
Tamura, E. (2006). The Economic Journal of Takasaki City University of Economics. (p.
169-188). Tasaki.
Celce, M. (2001). Teaching English as a second or foreign language. (p. 3-11). Boston:
Heinle & Heinle.