In case the Moodle download is not working, here is the PDF for my lecture on Improving Language Teaching.
Even with language focused lessons, we can (1) begin with a meaningful event or stimulus, and (2) we can keep lessons focused on meaning by knowing the traits or principles of communicative activities and (3) the four faces of communicative competence. (4) By knowing these things, we can take dull language-focused lessons and make them more meaningful and communicative.
In case the Moodle download is not working, here is the PDF for my lecture on Improving Language Teaching.
Summary. To promote meaningful language learning, we can (1) encourage natural interactions that focus on real messages; we can (2) create real life situations that require meaningful communication, (i.e., communicative language learning); we can (3) observe these interactions and situations in order to increase meaningfulness, and we can (4) understand the nature of mistakes and feedback in order to improve meaningful communication.
In case the Moodle download is not working, here is the PDF for my lecture Language of Learners (Part 2).
Summary: For making good sense, we need words. But as the previous quotes and anecdotes show, we also need more than words. We need to make good sociolinguistic and pragmatic sense. We need to make good phonological sense, and we need to to make good lexical and grammatical sense.
What is the most important improvement a language teacher can make? According to Paul Nation, it’s “Adding an extensive reading program to a language course.”
But what are the benefits of extensive reading, and why should we practice it? In this workshop at JALT National (11/23/2015), we gave a core definition and summarized 9 benefits of ER.
First, we stated that ER is a reading BEE (a meeting for communal enjoyment). Readers commune with authors, story characters, and other readers. BEE stands for the idea that ER is Big, Easy, and Enjoyable.
Next, we stated the benefits of ER, saying that “ER makes MASTERFUL English.” Each letter in MASTERFUL summarizes one of the 9 benefits of ER.
Click here or on the image for a PDF of the talk.
By Douglas Forster and Joseph Poulshock
What is the As If Principle?
“If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” — William James, 1884
We presented our latest iteration of insights about As If Principle at the JALT National Conference in Shizuoka on November 21, 2015. We summarized and demonstrate five practical case studies and practices that use the “As If Principle” (AIP) to motivate students to do big reading: (1) The Five-Minute Drill, (2) The Reading Poster Project, (3) The Reading Photo Project, (4) The Confidence Trick, and (5) The Power Pose. Besides these activities, we discussed ways to research the efficacy of the As If Principle.
Click here or on the image to download the PDF.