How Languages are Learned

How languages are learned

TEFL PST - 2022

"Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going."

Rita Mae Brown

Index

04. Practice

01. Objective

05. Application

02. Warm up!

06. Wrap up

03. Information

Goals

General

Participants will identify different strategies such as scaffolding, using L1, L2 among others by discussing when and how to use them in classroom teaching.

Warm up!Principles of language teaching

Agree / Disagree gallery walk

1. Look at the following statements 2. Stand in front of each statement and wait to be asked to choose right/left if you agree or disagree with the statement 3. Share your thoughts with the whole group

Language teachers have to pay more attention to students’ emotional reactions to learning than other subjects’ teachers.

In general, there is no difference between ESL and EFL students.

You can teach true beginners without knowing their first language.

One continuum of teacher style is from “sage on the stage” to “guide on the side.” Sage on the stage is usually better for language learning.

There is no difference between L1 (1st language) and L2 (second language) learning.

Let's think about language teaching

What do you think are the key skills to learn a second language?

key skills to learn a second language

• Develop physical habits
• Develop mental habits
• Learn both the content and the medium of the content
• Develop capacity to use language in real life situations
• Practice extensively –seek internalization
• Productive feedback so we know we are getting it right

key strategies to learn a second language

• They might be visible (behaviour, steps, techniques, etc.) or unseen (thoughts and mental processes); and involve information and memory (vocabulary knowledge, grammar rules, etc.)

Ogenyi, L (2014). English Language Learning Strategies in Second Language Environments: Implications for L2 Learners and Teachers. Resarch on Humanities and Soocial Sciences. Vol 4, N 26. Pages 45 - 46.

What about your experience?

Why are you (as language learners) motivated to learn Spanish?

What about your experience?

What DEMOTIVATES you as you’re learning Spanish?

Motivation

Teachers need to maximize students’ existing motivation to learn English and minimize demotivation to learning English

Colombian Context

How can you motivate Colombian students? (Specifically age ~11-17)

Colombian Context

Are colombian classes EFL or ESL settings?

Use of L1 in English Classes

• There are times when conscious use of students’ L1 can support English learning and times when use of the L1 slows English learning.

Scaffolding

What is a scaffold?

Scaffolding

Any idea of how scaffolding relates to learning?

Scaffolding

The teacher “scaffolds” the student (that is, helps the learner up) so that the learner can move from his current state of knowledge and skills to a new level s/he cannot yet reach on her/his own

How do teachers help learners do what they can’t do on their own?

• Ask leading questions to help students remember.
• Provide guidance during practice (be a mentor), and give just-in-time feedback and needed praise
• Emphasize key points and scaffold review
• Model how to do activities.

• Say it and also write it
• Gesture and make movements
• Draw pictures and diagrams
• Supply a word or phrase when a student is stuck
• Remind them of what they are supposed to do.

INFO

Let's practice

Breakout rooms Use of the First Language in Language Activities

Make your own decisions about when and when NOT to use the first language in your classrooms. Read the situations in the handout and discuss with your classmates. Then return to the main room and share your thoughts.

7min

"Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things."

Flora Lewis