Fluency and Accuracy

Hello Class!

This blog entry is meant to make us debate a little about fluency and accuracy.

When you read chapter 12 on page 83, you will find out that fluency and accuracy are fairly different and have different functions.

Nevertheless, as teachers, we must always try to provide a balance of activities to develop them both in our students.

After reading, please answer the following questions with your own words:

1. How are fluency and accuracy connected? When and how do they affect each other?
2. Which one should we prioritize in our class, fluency of accuracy? What things should we consider before deciding? 
3. Choose one activity among the ten options they provide, and:
1. Explain why you think its main focus is in fluency, in accuracy, or in both.
2. Explain how the activity is useful for a certain level of learner. (beginner, lower/upper intermediate, advanced, etc.)
3. Create two adaptations to the activity, in order to improve it by changing its focus, length, approach, level of difficulty, etc.

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same, and if you do not answer every question to the detail, you will not get all the points for your comments.

Deadline: Sunday, July 23rd, at 11:59pm.

Developing Speaking Skills in Our Class

Hello Class!

This blog entry is dedicated to a productive macro skill, speaking.
We already know that speech is often spontaneously produced and in a very limited time frame. As speakers, we do not have a lot of time to analyze what the other speaker is saying and prepare what we will respond.

Please read chapter 11 in our blog textbook and watch the video below. Then answer the following questions with your own words:

1. What are some functions and forms of speaking?
2. Can casual conversation be harder for a learner than giving a presentation in class? Why? Why not? Explain.
3. Are you familiar with Krashen's affective filter? In a few words, what is it about? How is it important while trying to teach or develop speaking in our class?
4. Out of the six statements on page 79, Which one do you disagree the most with? Why?
5. After watching the British Council's video, please mention and explain three major recommendations you got, to apply in your class.

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same, and if you do not answer every question to the detail, you will not get all the points for your comments.

Deadline: Sunday, July 16th, at 11:59pm.

Authentic Materials and Reading Skills Development

Hello!

In developing our students' reading skills we can use either authentic materials or materials specifically designed for English purposes. 
As teachers, we can either approach reading "in real life," or reading "in the classroom."

Please read chapter eight in our book for the blog. Then watch the video below. After that, please answer the following questions in a comment on this post:

1. What is the difference between approaching reading for our real life and reading for the classroom?
2. Give a brief definition and three examples of each one of the following types of authentic materials:
1. Realia
2. Printed text
3. Images 
4. Multimedia
3. Even though most of our students have already learned to read in their native language already, why is it of such a great importance that we develop reading skills and literacy in the target language we are teaching?

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same and every question must be answered thoroughly to get the points.

Deadline: Sunday, July 09th, at 11:59pm.

Teaching Pronunciation

Hello class!

Pronunciation is something that concerns teachers at every level. There are many different points of view regarding the teaching of pronunciation.

In this entry, you will answer the following questions in your own words, based on what you read on Chapter 7 - "Teaching Pronunciation."

1. Should we teach pronunciation or leave our students to pick it up for themselves?
2. Mention three advantages of having a good pronunciation.
3. Mention three disadvantages of having a poor pronunciation.
4. Explain Elision, coalescence, and assimilation with different examples from the ones on the book.

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same.

Deadline: Sunday, June 18th, at 11:59pm.

Managing a Class

As teachers, we have many roles. In this chapter they explain to us the role of 'organizer' and 'controller.' One of the most important skills a teacher needs to develop, in order to manage a class is how to grade his own language. 

After reading this chapter in our text and the "Commentary" section, please answer the following questions in a comment on this post:

1. According to the article, why should we limit the amount of students' first language used in the class? When and to what extent is it OK to use it?
2. What is the difference between useful noise and non-useful noise in a class?
3. What's the role of gestures in the ELT classroom?

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same, and if you do not answer every question to the detail, you will not get all the points for your comments.

Deadline: Sunday, June 11th, at 11:59pm.

Language, Learning, and Teaching

Hello class!

Welcome to the Teaching of Reading and Writing. We will learn different Approaches and techniques to teach both areas of comprehension. After reading the first chapter in one of our texts, please answer the following questions in a comment on this post:

1. How many morphemes do we find in the word 'regrouping'? Explain every morpheme separately
2. What's the difference between analyzing language according to form, function, and meaning? Explain.
3. In the Communicative Approach, Thornbury makes a distinction between a 'shallow end' approach and a 'deep end' approach. Explain each one of them.

Remember that opinions can not be exactly the same, and if you do not answer every question to the detail, you will not get all the points for your comments.

Deadline: Wednesday, June 07th, at 11:59pm.