What is the “TiNi Methodology”? By

Douglas J. Anderson, M.A., Ph.D., RPCV

Created For the Webinar “Teaching English Using the TiNi Methodology”

Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador To Be Held

July 16, 2020 11:00AM to 12:00PM

Students from the Traditional Dance class inaugurate the planned “TiNi” area.

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What is the “TiNi Methodology”?

For guidance on just exactly what constitutes the “TiNi Methodology” we must turn to the Guía and deduce our answer. TiNi Themes

The Guía is very explicit about the themes we may use in our English classes and fortunately it provides us with a vast expanse of vocabulary upon which we may draw. Following is a short list, not necessarily all-inclusive. ! Sustainable development and the adoption of sustainable lifestyles

! Human rights ! Gender equality

! Promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence ! World citizenship and the appreciation of cultural diversity

! Ancestral languages and gender from a rights and duties perspective ! The rights of citizenship and the unity of diversity in Ecuadorian society

! Environmental protection that includes building affection with the natural world ! Values and ethical orientation that supports the above-listed themes

! Indigenous peoples of Ecuador (culture, values, community beliefs and traditions) ! Ecuadorian cultural symbols such as those found in the flag

! Plant and animal species native to Ecuador ! Ecuadorian traditional dance

! Traditional and cultural foods including their preparation

A Summary of the “TiNi Methodology”

We can now take these themes and think about how they may be developed within the malla curricular such that we “incorporate TiNi, as a pedagogical space or resource room that allows teachers to work on the subjects established in the required curriculum in a transversal way” (Guía, p. 8). Class Schedule Proposal Incorporating the TiNi Time in Superior Basic

Keeping in mind that the Guía mandates 5 hours a week of TiNi inclusion, it supplies us with a proposal illustrating how this may be accomplished (see p. 9). Thus, for example, on Mondays we may include an hour of thematic TiNi teaching within our Language and Literature classes, English classes on Tuesdays, Social Studies on Wednesdays, Natural Sciences on Thursdays and Mathematics on Fridays. I have copied below this proposed class schedule as found in the Guía on page 9.

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TiNi Activities We Might Undertake

The following are just a few of the dynamic activities I created for teaching my TiNi classes the last three years, activities that may be accomplished at home during the quarantine period and that may be adapted to your English classes. ! Use of drawings that reflect TiNi themes.

! Planting seeds and potted plants with associated science and history ! Traditional dance costumes, associated vocabulary and history

! Music that includes song lyrics ! Playing musical instruments with associated English-learning activities

! Reading of selected TiNi-themed books ! Identifying plant or animal species outside the home (requires 2 parts)

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Figure 1. My first grade TiNi class learning about owls and their importance.

Figure 2. My fourth grade TiNi class making valentines for Valentine’s Day.