Read the following excerpt. What other steps can you think of? Post a comment. Add two more ideas to the list.
The integrated-skill approach, as contrasted with the purely segregated approach, exposes English language learners to authentic language and challenges them to interact naturally in the language. Learners rapidly gain a true picture of the richness and complexity of the English language as employed for communication. Moreover, this approach stresses that English is not just an object of academic interest nor merely a key to passing an examination; instead, English becomes a real means of interaction and sharing among people. This approach allows teachers to track students' progress in multiple skills at the same time. Integrating the language skills also promotes the learning of real content, not just the dissection of language forms. Finally, the integrated-skill approach, whether found in content-based or task-based language instruction or some hybrid form, can be highly motivating to students of all ages and backgrounds.
In order to integrate the language skills in ESL/EFL instruction,teachers should consider taking these steps:
* Learn more about the various ways to integrate language skills in the classroom (e.g., content-based, task-based, or a combination).
* Reflect on their current approach and evaluate the extent to which the skills are integrated.
* Choose instructional materials, textbooks, and technologies that promote the integration of listening, reading, speaking, and writing, as well as the associated skills.
* Even if a given course is labeled according to just one skill, remember that it is possible to integrate the other language skills through appropriate tasks.
* Teach language learning strategies and emphasize that a given strategy can often enhance performance in multiple skills.
Answer the following questions based on the text "What is the history of reading and writing?" 1) Find examples of fixed expressions, semi-fixed expressions and collocations. 2) Think of a possible teaching context and plan three activities to present the new vocabulary. You may use or adapt any of the sample exercises in chapters 6 and 7. 3) Based on your experience wirking with the text proposed, What would you say are the pros and cons of this approach? Do you agree with the following statement by Thornbury (p.11): "Lewis offers us a prospect of a journey, even an exciting one, but it is a journey without maps". Discuss your answers in pairs.
*Introduce authentic materials that connect to their prior knowledge of the world.
ReplyDelete*Presenting topics which can be expanded into the four skills.
*Plan your lessons trying to find a way of integrating the four skills. For intance, you can include a reading session to activate previous knowledge, a listening activity to expand the topic, a writing activity to encourage your students to express themselves and a final discussion to promote speaking.
ReplyDelete*Teachers should be trained so they find it easier to select and design activities that integrate the four English skills. They should also be aware that the receptive and productive skills develop at a different pace. Bearing this in mind will be helpful when designing actitivities to foster their development.