Free practice is a stage in a lesson where learners produce language using the target content freely.

Teacher and young learners talking at a table

It can be compared with controlled practice, which involves learners producing the language previously focussed on in a restricted context.

Example
The teacher has shown the learners the form and use of the present passive form. They have practised using the structure by completing sentences using cues, and now they practise the form more freely by describing a process they have chosen.

In the classroom
Free practice appears in the production stage of a PPP lesson (Presentation, Practice, Production), and can also be the first stage in models such as TTT (test-teach-test) and ARC (Authentic Use-Restricted Use-Clarification and Focus).

Further links:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/tbl-pbl-two-learner-centred-approaches

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/speaking-elementary-learners

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/planning-a-grammar-lesson

Comments

Submitted by Jenny Hardacre on Sat, 10/15/2016 - 14:10

Is this what we used to call freer practice rather free? - in that it's not totally free because aim is still to get students to practice target language, though in a fairly unrestricted context. Free practice leaves students free to use any language at all.

Research and insight

Browse fascinating case studies, research papers, publications and books by researchers and ELT experts from around the world.

See our publications, research and insight