VIPKID is an online, one-on-one tutoring program where teachers in America teach students English in China. The teachers uses a slideshow that is imbedded into the video chat so the student can see the slideshow, the teacher, and herself. The teacher uses mimetic pedagogy when she says phrases such as “I have two hands to clap with,” and the student repeats them. She has the student repeat words and sounds throughout the lesson. There is some conversation, but the teacher does little to create an authentic experience for the student. Additionally, the teacher is the one doing all the actions (writing on the board, asking questions, etc.). The student is takes some notes but mostly repeats after the teacher.

I do think mimetic and didactic practices are necessary when teaching letters, sounds, and words of another language. However, it is also important to make the student active in her own learning. I also recommend some sort of peer collaboration. If a couple more students were in the video chat, the teacher could allow them to collaborate and make their English use more authentic through student-to-student discourse. I think the teacher did a good job of using visuals in her presentation to support language learning.