Formal And Informal Learning Essay

The turn of the millennium marks a significant shift in how we recognize and value education. Now, the learning of all kinds, whether it takes place within a formal school setting, a non-formal learning setting or a context that is completely informal is seen as valuable. This demonstrates significant progress in how we view, understand and appreciate learning (Eaton 2010).”

Having taught students for many years with different language and literacy skills and personalities, I have gone to ask them how they have come to their respective levels. Most of them who are in advanced level told me it is because they have lived in this and that country for a long period of time; others have foreigner friends whom they hang around with most of

When I am teaching privately, my students ask me for more clarifications of the lessons they did not quite get at school. A few days back, I had our neighbor asked me if I could teach his children English. I told him that since we are neighbors, I would rather choose to play with the kids than to have them sit and be taught of this language. This informal learning would benefit these children greatly to back them up with their grammar and vocabulary lessons from their respective schools. They would be able to hear and use expressions that are not quite often used in a formal learning

Literacy learning for example alphabet/letters or the written forms of the language, grammar and structure, in my own point of view, can best be learned in formal and non-formal setting. On the other hand, language learning can best be learned and applied in informal learning like songs, rhymes, chats, and games. Being exposed to variety of ways like televisions, group conversations and immersion courses can help them acquire the language in a “mother tongue” way which brings them to confidence and