Chapter 1 Starting out
Language systems
Phonology
Lexis
Grammar
Function
Discourse
Language skills
Productive
Receptive
Reading
Listening
Macro skills
Respect, empathy and authenticity
respect: a positive and non-judgemental regard for another person
empathy: being able to see things from the other person's perspective, as if looking through their eyes
authenticity: being oneself without hiding behind job titles, roles or masks
Creating a positive learning atmosphere - first building block of teaching
Speaking
Writing
Three kinds of teachers
The explainer
The involver
The enabler
subject matter + methodology + people
has an awareness of how individuals and groups are thinking and feeling, actively responds to this in his or her planning and methods
knowing the subject matter well, but lacking the knowledge of teaching methodology
relies mainly on explaining or lecturing
students aren't personally involved or challenged
subject matter + methodology
trying to involve the students actively
finding appropriate and interesting activities
“Students my bring pen and paper to the lesson, but they also bring a whole range of other, less visible things to class: their needs, their wishes, their life experience, their home background, their memories, their worries, their day so far, their dreams, their anger, their toothache, their fears, their moods, etc.” (p.21.)
teaching ≠ learning
Learning demands energy and attention from the learner.
teacher's role: to help learning happen
creating conditions in which students might be able to learn
Methods
method = a way of teaching
some well-known methods and approaches
• The Grammar-Translation Method
• The Audio-Lingual Method
• Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) or Communicative Approach (CA)
• Total Physical Response (TPR)
• Community Language Learning (CLL)
• The natural approach
• The Silent Way
• Person-centred approaches
• Lexical approaches
• Dogme
• Personal methodology
What is a teacher?
'Entertainer' teaching
may serve as an act of covering up
there's a fine line between creating a good atmosphere and good rapport in class and becoming and entertainer
Traditional teaching
'transmission view'
teacher roles: to direct, give orders, tell off, rebuke, criticize
the teacher does most of the talking
students role: to listen, concentrate and take notes
teacher in charge
'jug and mug'
Modern view
allowed to make mistakes
successful communication in real-world tasks
balancing system and skills
observation
encouraging autonomous learning - taking on responsibility
teacher roles: managerial, mediator, facilitator
active student participation
student-centered
cooperative tasks - students working together
free of judgement
open to students' interests and ideas
focusing on functions
Key hints when starting to teach
Talk to the students as they come into the room
Learn names as soon as possible
Be yourself
Teaching doesn't mean 'talking all the time'
Teaching doesn't mean 'teaching' all the time
Slow down
Key hints when planning your first lessons
Use the coursebook
Learn something about your students
Plan student-focused activities
Make a written plan of the running order of your activities
Consider aims
Fluency or accuracy?
Get the room ready; get yourself ready
Have at least one emergency activity!