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F2F LECTURE (February 2011):

COMPUTERS IN THE COMPUTERS IN THE TEACHING OF TEACHING OF

LANGUAGE SKILLS: LANGUAGE SKILLS: AUTHENTIC TASK AND AUTHENTIC TASK AND

AUTHENTIC MATERIALSAUTHENTIC MATERIALS

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Introduction

• Question: What is authentic?• Authentic Task: Requires learners to use the target

language to accomplish something.• Authentic Materials: Materials which are not

specifically designed for classroom use, but may be exploited in CALL environment (e.gs – online magazines, brochures, e-mails, letters, newspapers)

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Advantages:

• Interesting and fun• Realistic• Cheap/free• Gives confidence to students

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Disdvantages:

• More teacher input required

• Takes longer to plan• Could be discouraging

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• Other examples: Pre-recorded materials from television such as game shows, feature films, documentaries, news and weather, interviews, or online advertisement clips, cartoons etc.

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TEACHING READING SKILLS WITH TECHNOLOGY

• Objective: • a) to help learners find information from reading,• b) to help learners enjoy reading.

HOW ?

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A. Simulation• To mimic or an execution of a model,

represented by a computer program.• Example: Playing reading skills or

adventure games forces students to read and to read carefully. It is important to read carefully enough and to understand the information which will help them solve problems.

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• Example: • Elementary – Read Along with Storybear,

Haunted Alphabet.• Secondary – Secrets@sea, Tongue Twister,

Infoplease Crossword Puzzle.• Upper Secondary & Beyond – Tongue

Twister, Crossword Puzzle.

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• B. Speed Reading Software

• Most software can be used to assess students reading level, and improve their reading speed and comprehension both online and offline.

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• When you read faster with better comprehension, you are able to absorb more material in a shorter amount of time.

• Breaks the habit of re-reading and subvocalization.

• Re-reading? Letting your eyes wonder back to the text you previously read.

Subvocalization? Pronouncing words in your mind while reading

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• Example: This exercise will improve your reading speed by helping you recognize the core meaning of complex sentences. A sentence will flash on the screen (5, 10, 15, 20 seconds). Read it carefully and focus on the meaning of the sentence. On the next screen, choose the best answer. The computer will tell you if you chose the right answer.

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• Example: If one were to judge legislators wholly by the effects of their actions and not by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads.

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The sentence means that:A.Legislators do not do a very good job.B.Legislators have bad intentions.C.Legislators like to travel by train.D. Legislators should be forced to work on

the railroad.

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TEACHING WRITING SKILLS WITH TECHNOLOGY

1) Teachers need to motivate writers to reach inside themselves, connect to what they are writing, and touch their audience…..try to make writing a communicative and authentic task.

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• Teachers need to motivate writers to reach inside themselves, connect to what they are writing, and touch their audience…..try to make writing a communicative and authentic task.

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2) Increasing Motivation:• a) creating a reason for writing in the target

language, (e.g. writing e-mail to a friend/key-pal, doing group project with another group locally or abroad) PIC

• b) broadening the audience base (e.g. publishing students work such as newsletter in the library, www or participate in posting

messages to mailing lists or newsgroups).

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3) Improving Communication:

a) Software that helps learners practice academic and business writing.

b) On-line dictionaries, thesauruses, grammar checkers…the ability to use such tools is a real-world skill.