Download - Lien Content Based Instruction
Building Communication Skills Building Communication Skills Through Content-Based Through Content-Based InstructionInstruction
ByDr. Luyi Lien
Academy DirectorYinghua Academy
May 1, 2009National Chinese Conference,
Chicago, IL
Yinghua Academy Yinghua Academy
The first Chinese school in the Midwest as well as the first Chinese immersion public charter school in the United States.
Short history of Yinghua Short history of Yinghua Academy Academy
•School opened in September 2006 with 76 students•In school year of 2007-2008, we doubled our numbers•In school year of 2008-2009, we have 239 students •In school year of 2009-2010, we are expecting 314 students with a long waiting list for kindergarten and most of the grades
Yinghua Academy: Early Total Immersion Yinghua Academy: Early Total Immersion ProgramProgram
- 100% of Chinese instructional time in K & - 100% of Chinese instructional time in K & Grade 1Grade 1- 90% of Chinese instructional time in - 90% of Chinese instructional time in Grade 2 Grade 2 - 80% of Chinese instructional time in - 80% of Chinese instructional time in Grade 3Grade 3- 70 % of Chinese instructional time in - 70 % of Chinese instructional time in Grade 4 Grade 4 - 60% of Chinese instructional time in - 60% of Chinese instructional time in Grade 5Grade 5 - Provide special classes (PE class, art class, and music class) also in Chinese
Main Goals Main Goals for Our Students:for Our Students:•Provide academic rigor •Reach high levels of oral proficiency• Become truly bi-literate and bi-cultural
Building communication skills Building communication skills through content-based through content-based
instructioninstruction
What skills do students need to be able to
communicate with others?
Building communication skills Building communication skills through content-based through content-based
instructioninstruction
Academic Language vs.
Social Language
Building communication skills Building communication skills through content-based through content-based
instructioninstruction
Why do we need to emphasize social language?
How to build students’ social How to build students’ social language and get students to language and get students to useuse this language skill? this language skill?
Who– teachers and students, and native language speakers
When— anytime during the dayWhat– target functional languageWhere- anywhere: classroom/play ground/library/ field trip How— intentional teaching and informal
talking
How to build students’ social How to build students’ social language and get students to language and get students to useuse this language skill? this language skill?We want students to be able to
function, to feel successful and feel as if they are capable of communication in a real life situation.
As a teacher and administrator, we can do:
How to build students’ social How to build students’ social language and get students to language and get students to useuse this language skill?this language skill?
(1) provide the language(2) provide the environment (3) provide the opportunity to
practice and to be corrected
Provide languageProvide language --give students tools --give students tools
Use more pragmatic social language in your classroom
“Survival Language” --May I go to _____?--May I have _____?--Would you please repeat_____?--How does one do______?“Manners”—Please, thanks, excuse me“Request”—Would you please turn on the lights?“Direction”—Please wash your hands, drink some
water, then go to the lunch room.
Example video:s
Provide language --give Provide language --give students toolsstudents toolsSome ideas for social language
use: *lunch hour-*story time-*show and tell-*work time-*play time-*recess time-*dismissal time-
Example videos:
Provide the environment:Provide the environment:Create a place where students feel comfortable to speak Chinese without feeling embarrassed
Full Chinese Only Classroom: Full Chinese Only Classroom: Encourage the Social Encourage the Social LanguageLanguage
RulesTeachers : speak Chinese only when students are present
Students: are encouraged to speak Chinese only in the classroom English is discouraged in classroom conversation English may be used only as a whisper for clarification
Exercise:Exercise:(1)Please review the following video(2)Guess and think-- what subject is this
class? -- what content area is it? -- what do students learn? --what communication skills were
students using in this class? --What strategies does the teacher use? --What will you do differently to make
students “talk” more during the class? (3) Write it down, discuss with your
neighbor
Example videos:
Exercise:Exercise:(1)Please review the following video(2)Guess and think-- what subject is this
class? -- what content area is it? -- what do students learn? --what communication skills were
students using in this class? --What strategies do the teacher use? --What will you do differently to make
students “talk” more during the class? (3) Write it down, discuss with your
neighbor
Full Chinese Only Classroom: Full Chinese Only Classroom: Encourage the Social Encourage the Social LanguageLanguageTips for teachers:
(1)Plan ahead—Keep these questions in mind: What is the content objectives? What is the language/linguistic
objectives? Consider defining vocabulary for
each lesson which considers social and academic language.
Building communication Building communication skills through content-based skills through content-based instructioninstructionTips for teachers:(1)Plan ahead—Keep these questions in mind:What questions/ answers/
conversations will the students need when they are in a real life situation?
Building communication skills Building communication skills through content-based instruction through content-based instruction
(example 2:)(example 2:)*Reading*Games*Pair activities*Whole class choral reading*Group reading*Independent reading
Example videos:
Examples (3):Examples (3):A Lesson in 2nd grade:Theme: Celebrate the differences and
similarities (Tolerance and Acceptance Month)
Chinese language arts lessons: My best friend
Lesson and language integrate with social studies, character education, math lesson, PE class, and art classes:
Building Communication Skills Building Communication Skills through Content-based Instructionthrough Content-based Instruction
Tip for teachers:Simple lesson plan form:Grade:Teacher:Topic:Content Objective(s):Linguistic Objective(s): Vocabulary: Materials:Produce:DifferentiationAssessment:
Provide the opportunity to Provide the opportunity to practice and to be correctedpractice and to be corrected
Keep in mind:
What is the purpose of communication?
-What needs to be corrected?--How to correct?--Allow mistakes and imperfections—Even the native speakers make mistakes
Teaching is an art,Teachers are imaginative people
who create many amazing moments for students to learn and to discover—
More ideas to share?
Thank you very much!Thank you very much!
謝謝 ! 谢谢!
Building Communication Skills Building Communication Skills Through Content-Based InstructionThrough Content-Based Instruction
Dr. Luyi Lien, Academic DirectorYinghua Academy
[email protected]: 651-379-4112