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2 Teaching today1

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Traditional teaching3

How was English traditionally taught?Grammar translationWritingReadingIsolated skillsDrilling and repetitionNo contextNo real life use of the languageTeacher centeredStrict practiceNo speakingNo communication

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5What is different in teaching today?

Teaching a language26

7What is communication?According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:

Communication is the process by which people exchange information or express their thoughts and feelings

How do we communicate?8

Taken from: http://tw-sajeda.wikispaces.com/Communication+Models

What else should we take into account? 9

Adapted from: http://finntrack.co.uk/images/CommunicationModelOfSpeech_new.png

ChannelAge, gender, social context, culture, background information, motivation, abilities, learning styles, expectations, etc.

10How can we foster communication?Communication has to be meaningful.Communication has to be authentic.Communication has to be purposeful.Communication has to be participative.

What elements should we teach in English?11WritingGrammarVocabPronunciation

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Which methodology?Communicative methodology is:

an attempt to get as close to real communication as possible.

taught integrating the four communicative skills

13What are communicative activities?

a desire to communicatea communicative purposea focus on language content not language formsa variety of language usedno teacher interventionno control or simplification of the material

In its purest form, a communicative activity is an activity in which there is:

14So what do we need to do?

Make the materials as authentic as possible.Reduce teacher talk time.Create more natural communicative purposes.Wider variety of language use.Create a fun and motivating environment.

Communicative activities in the EFL classroomAs teachers within the classroom we use two kinds of communication:Every day routines: Hello class! How are you today?Topic based communication: When we talk about topics that have been studied in the classroom i.e. food, clothes, etc.

These can either be CONTROLLED PRACTICE, where the focus is on producing a specific language item or GUIDED/FREE PRACTICE when the focus is more on fluency.

What about grammar?316

How should we teach grammar?

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Approaching grammar19

Rule - drivenDiscovery learning

What is the approach in this grammar explanation?

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Teach grammar through texts21

Task:22

1) Get in groups of 3

2) Choose a grammar topic from your book.

3) Plan an inductive approach

4) Share with your colleagues

Some rules for teaching grammar:

Contextualize grammar.

Put the grammar taught in communicative use

Economize on presentation time and provide maximum practice time

Focus on relevant grammar for students.

Dont teach grammar, provide conditions for grammar learning.

Be appropriate. This may mean giving a lot of prominence to grammar, or it may mean never actually teaching grammar at all. (Thornburry, 1999; 153)23

What about Vocabulary?424

What is Vocabulary?

The body of words used in a particular language.

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0025

What is Spelling?Correct written representation of words.

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What is Reading?It is making meaning from printed words.

Reading vs. SpellingProcess of changing printed words into language.

Spelling is the converse process of changing spoken words back into print.

Why so important?Spanish is over 90% phonemic - they are written as spoken and no one has to think of soundsas independent of their letter representations. English is about 40% phonemic - it corresponds to itspronunciation guide only 40% of the time.

Source: http://www.unifon.org/pages/rationale.html

Long-term CommitmentAccurate spelling = not isolated skillOne of the fundamental sub-skills of effective written communication.No temporary memorization of words

limited to a students weekly spelling test or spelling bee competition. The goal of spelling instruction should not be temporary memorization of words but rather the development of skills to be able to correctly represent the written language.the development of skills to be able to correctly represent the written language.

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1. How to Succeed on Vocabulary Building

1. Effective Spelling Instruction.2. Parents` support.3. Autonomous work.

Thank you!