Question

methods used to facilitate the learning of language

Answer 1

Teachers need to facilitate learning by making the educational process easier for students. This does not mean watering down curriculum or lowering standards. Rather, facilitating learning involves teaching students to think critically and understand how the learning process works. Students need to learn how to go beyond the basic facts: who, what, where and when, and to be able to question the world around them.
Methods of instruction

There are a number of instructional methods that can help a teacher  move away from standard lesson delivery and toward facilitating a true learning experience by:

Varying instructional methods to try and meet different learning stylesProviding students with choices to build a greater interest in the topics being taughtDiscussing real-world connections to make learning more meaningfulMaking thematic connections so that students see that information is not learned in isolationIncreasing the amount of talk in the classroom in order toIncrease opportunities for peer-to-peer learning

Using various instructional methods helps immerse students in the learning process by tapping into their interests and abilities. Each of the different methods of facilitating learning has its merits.

Varying instruction

Varying instruction means using different methods to deliver lessons to students, including:

Lecture: Though this is the standard instructional delivery method, lecturing does tap into students' linguistic intelligence.Whole- or small-group discussion: Getting students to interact with each other helps them tap into their interpersonal intelligence. This social skill will be important for students well beyond the classroom.Roleplay: For example, role-playing an aspect of 1960s protest movements in an American history class would help kinesthetic learners make connections with the lesson.Simulations: Allowing students to participate in more immersive experiences might include creating a model legislature or a classroom government.Debates: This method forces students to research, create arguments and defend their positions -- all excellent examples of critical-thinking skills.Multimedia presentations: Some students are better at learning visually; multimedia presentations tap into their spatial intelligence.Outside speakers: It's always a great idea to expose students to other role models who can give them different perspectives on various issues.Providing students with choice

When students feel empowered in their learning, they are more likely to accept ownership of it. If a teacher simply delivers the material to the students through lecture, they may feel no attachment to it. You can provide students with the ability to make choices by:

Allowing students to choose from a number of topics for writing assignmentsProviding a selection of books for book reports and reading assignmentsAllowing students to complete research on a topic of their choosing within the area you are currently teaching that they will then report back to the classProviding students with opportunities to choose who they might want to work with on a project

One example of providing choice could be creating a class-wide assignment such as a historical newspaper and allowing students to pick the section and topic on which they wish to work.