Video: the 6 characteristics of non-formal education
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Here are the key-elements of the video:
Non-formal education means studying in an organised way outside school. For example, this course has a timetable, a programme, a teacher. It is organised, but you do not study in school. This course is an example of non-formal education.
Non-formal education is based on people's interests and needs. So non-formal education is very specific: there are drama courses, writing courses, and much more.
Non-formal education does NOT teach general subjects like geography or maths. You study these things at school.
With non-formal education, you study, but you don't go to school. That is why non-formal education is open to people old and young, and with very different life experiences.
Non-formal education has six characteristics.
- Non-formal education is voluntary: you are not obliged to do this course. You do it because you are interested;
- Non-formal education is participative and oriented to the learner (= student): it means that non-formal education responds to the interest of the learners and puts the learners at the centre of everything. This course responds to your interest in foreign language teaching. You, as the learner, are at the centre of the course!
- Non-formal education uses non-formal methods: for example, in this course we use 'learning by doing' a lot. We do practical activities to learn. We don't read a lot of books!
- Non-formal education encourages collaboration and learning among peers (= people like you): it means that in this course you will work a lot with your peers and learn from them;
- Non-formal education does NOT give certificates recognised by the school or university;
- The teacher is NOT always a professional.
The difference between non-formal and other types of education
We have seen the characteristics of non-formal education. But there are two other types of education:
- Formal education: means studying at school or university. At the end, you get a recognised certificate, a document like a diploma or a degree. If you attend highschool, you do formal education. If you study medicine at university, you do formal education;
- Informal education: it means learning in everyday life. If you learn to play poker, you do informal education. If your sister teaches you how to cook food, you do informal education.
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