Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная
лингвистика
и
лингводидактика
–
Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
The importance of using innovative strategies like CREAM
in English language teaching and learning
Muzaffar KURBANOV
Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received June 2024
Received in revised form
10 July 2024
Accepted 25 July 2024
Available online
25 August 2024
This article discusses the application of the CREAM strategy
in learning English. It provides an overview of the CREAM
strategy and explores how it can be effectively used to enhance
students' learning experiences in the English language
classroom.
2181-3701
/©
2024 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol2-iss2
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
CREAM strategy,
improve,
effectiveness,
skill,
learning English,
innovation,
language highlights.
Ingliz tilini o
‘
qitish va o
‘
rganishda CREAM kabi
innovatsion strategiyalardan foydalanishning ahamiyati
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar
:
CREAM strategiyasi,
takomillashtirish,
samaradorlik,
mahorat,
ingliz tilini o
‘
rganish,
innovatsiyalar,
til o
‘
rganishning ahamiyatli
jihatlari.
Ushbu maqolada ingliz tilini o
‘
rganishda CREAM
strategiyasini qo
‘llash haqida ma’lumot beriladi. Ushbu
maqolada biz CREAM strategiyasi nima ekanligi va talabalarga
til o
‘
rgatishda CREAM strategiyasidan qanday foydalanish
bayon etiladi.
1
PhD, Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages.
2
Student, Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
2 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
80
Важность использования инновационных стратегий,
таких как CREAM, в преподавании и изучении
английского языка
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
Стратегия CREAM,
улучшение,
эффективность,
навыки,
изучение английского
языка,
инновации,
особенности языка.
Эта статья посвящена применению стратегии CREAM
для изучения английского языка. В ней рассматривается,
что представляет собой стратегия CREAM, а также как её
можно эффективно использовать при обучении студентов
английскому языку.
In today's interconnected and globalized world, the need to learn foreign
languages has become increasingly urgent. As societies grow more diverse and
interconnected, proficiency in multiple languages is no longer just a valuable skill, but a
necessity for individuals, businesses, and nations. Numerous reforms are being
implemented across all spheres of socio-economic life. The impact of Uzbekistan's
significant reforms in its education system is particularly evident in sectors related to
language learning. The state places great emphasis on the teaching and future
development of foreign languages within the education sector, which plays a critical role
in the country's socio-economic, political, and cultural life. This sector is also one of the
key variables that directly affect public morale at the legislative level.
On May 6, 2021, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
conducted a video conference to discuss steps to enhance the foreign language education
system, during which the system's shortcomings were thoroughly examined and
priorities were established. As a result, attitudes toward foreign language education were
addressed in the Presidential Resolution of May 19, 2021, No. PP-5117, titled "On
Measures to Bring the Promotion of Foreign Languages in the Republic of Uzbekistan to a
Qualitatively New Level." The resolution emphasizes the need to prioritize the
development of foreign language education as a policy focus, radically improve the
quality of education in this area, attract qualified teachers, and increase the population's
interest in learning foreign languages.[1]
Effective English language teaching is essential in today’s world. Well
-designed
teaching strategies not only improve students' comprehension and retention of the
language but also enhance their overall competency. To ensure that every student has the
opportunity to succeed, teaching methods are often flexible and can be adapted to meet
diverse needs. When instructional strategies incorporate real-life contexts and practical
language use, students are better able to apply what they learn to real-world situations.
This makes the language more meaningful and easier to retain.
Rather than simply having students memorize vocabulary and grammar rules,
innovative teaching methods can foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills,
enabling students to use English in more sophisticated ways. When students achieve
success through effective teaching techniques, their confidence in their language skills
grows. This self-assurance can reduce anxiety and motivate further learning.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
2 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
81
As modern educators, we constantly seek new techniques that offer the benefits
mentioned above. This research focuses on using the CREAM strategy in language
teaching. English language learners frequently look for ways to manage their language
acquisition more effectively. In her book Study Skills, Stella Cottrell introduces the
CREAM strategy and emphasizes its advantages for students. Although the handbook is
primarily written for undergraduates aiming for academic success, many of its insights
can also be beneficial for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students.
CREAM stands for:
C
–
Creative
R
–
Reflective
E
–
Effective
A
–
Active
M
–
Motivated
C-Creativity
is especially important for creating ideas in the early stages of new
assignments. This is particularly true about learning English: we have to constantly imply
imagination while speaking, constructing sentences, writing essays thinking up
situations, etc. Creativity stimulates different areas of the mind and makes learning fresh
and effective. The author encourages to foster creativity by doing some exercises:
•
Finding connections between two random objects, for example, a cup and a plant.
•
Combining the front half of one animal and the rear of another to create another one.
R-Reflection
is an effective habit for learners. Apart from formal assessment, they
need to reflect on how they learn (progress, motivation, gaps in knowledge). Learning
journals, progress sheets, and self-evaluation questionnaires are good tools for reflection.
Example of self-
evaluation questions from ‘Study skills’:
1. Generally, how well am I living in this house?
2. In this unit, I am best at____. What makes me better at these aspects?
E-Effectiveness
doesn’t necessarily mean working hard. Students can spend too
many hours working instead of applying smart strategies. Stella Cottrell suggests that:
•
The organization of the workplace is essential for being in the right state of mind
for study. This is true about working online. Storing information in the right way can save
time in the long term.
A-Active
learning techniques make success. The author opposes ‘active learning to
‘passive methods’:
•
Being more involved in the educational process instead of waiting for directions
and information.
•
Looking for links between different things contrary to treating pieces of
information as separate units.
•
Understanding and relating new information to what is already known. In other
words, long-term memory versus surface processing.
•
Taking charge of training and managing it like a project rather than expecting
others to prompt or remind students of steps, stages and deadlines.
M-Motivation
is one of the key points which has the biggest influence on the
success of learning a language. According to Sarah Cottrell factors like the clarity of
purpose, confidence in the outcome as well as managing ‘boring bits’ affect our desire to
learn. Students with weak motivation usually lose direction, are bored because of poor
study techniques, experience a crisis of confidence, and are not challenged or challenged
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
2 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
82
too much. Motivation is built by self-drive to achieve success. The condition to
communicate the maximum points in each answer encouraged students to prioritize the
questions they had to master to achieve the desired scores. In applying the CREAM
strategy, students must understand what they want to achieve, what steps need to be
taken, and how big the chances of success are.
This will build students’ motivation,
internally and externally.
Students were not able to apply the CREAM strategy directly. For the CREAM
strategy to be applied outside of class hours, students joined study groups according to
their learning styles. To be able to apply the Reflective strategy, students are assisted by
guiding questions. To be able to learn effectively, students must be guided intensively in
determining priorities, by providing views of the causes and consequences of the
priorities set. Students learn actively because they are involved in groups with similar
learning styles. To be able to motivate themselves, for example in exam preparation,
students must know what material must be studied and the score of each material. Thus,
students will be more motivated. As a teacher, we can help learners implement most of
these techniques, for instance, setting goals, defining benefits, creating motivational
tables etc. It’s a good idea to give an exact focus at the beginning of every lesson, for
example, a quick list of the things that will be considered. Setting short-term goals, such
as being able to talk about past events or writing a message to an English-speaking
person on social networks will help to see the results. We hope that the tips from this
article will enable students to master English and give educators a better understanding
of how to have more effective lessons.
REFERENCES:
1.
Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-5117 of May
19, 2021 // HTTPS://LEX.UZ/DOCS/5426736
2.
Ellis, R. (2003). Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
3.
Sharon Adelman Reyes, Trina Lynn Vallone (2007) Constructivist Strategies for
Teaching English Language Learners
4.
Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative
Competence. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.
5.
M. Zaheer, Get empowered by CREAM,” Clear. Conf. Proc., no. October, 2016.
6.
Dovurova, N. Z. qizi, & Abdulhaitova, H. F. qizi. (2022). APPLYING CREAM
STRATEGY TO LEARNING ENGLISH. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, 1(6), 21
–
24.
Retrieved from http://erus.uz/index.php/cf/article/view/773
7.
Ubaydullayeva Begoyim. (2022). CREAM STRATEGY IN THE PROCESS OF
LEARNING ENGLISH. Conference, 111
–
113. Retrieved from https://conferencea.org/
index.php/conferences/article/view/1246
8.
Ubaydullayeva, B. (2023). THE IMPORTANCE AND USE OF LITERATURE IN
LANGUAGE TEACHING TO YOUNG LEARNERS. Talqin Va Tadqiqotlar, 1(32).
https://talqinvatadqiqotlar.uz/index.php/tvt/article/view/1314
