The Action-oriented Approach


Book Description

This book presents the background to the current shift in language education towards action-oriented/action-based teaching, and provides a theorization of the Action-oriented Approach (AoA). It discusses the concepts and theories that paved the way for the AoA and explores their relevance for the way language education is conceived and implemented in the classroom. In the process, it revisits the concept of competence and discusses the dynamic notions of mediation and plurilingualism. The authors explain the way in which the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and its recent update, the CEFR Companion Volume, broaden the scope of language education, in particular in relation to the actional turn. The book provides scholars and practitioners with a research-informed description of the AoA, explains its implications for curriculum planning, teaching and assessment, and elaborates on its pedagogical implications.




The Social Action-Oriented Approach in Language Teaching


Book Description

The action-oriented approach (renamed as the social action-oriented approach in this book) was first introduced by the Council of Europe (CoE) in its official document The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR, 2001). This book aims to provide a detailed explanation of this approach in all its dimensions: its origins, how it has developed as a new methodology within its new didactic configuration, how to implement it in language textbooks and the classroom as well as the issue of designing social action-oriented curricula and programs. We believe this book will be a useful resource for curriculum developers, language textbook writers, researchers in the language teaching field, language teacher trainees, language teachers (K-12), and university students.




Language Curriculum Design and Socialisation


Book Description

This book applies social theory to curriculum design and sets out a program for language curriculum renewal for the 21st century. It includes many examples of text-based curricula and describes a plan for curriculum renewal based on texts as the unit of analysis for planning, for teaching and for assessment. Underpinned by Halliday’s semiotic theory of language, the book combines the theory of language as a resource for meaning-making with learning language as learning to mean. The curriculum design constructs curriculum around social practices and their texts rather than presenting language as grammatical and lexical objects. This work will provide teachers, teacher educators and curriculum planners with a curriculum model for teaching children and adults in different contexts from preschool to adult education as well as serving as a practical guide for students.







Teaching English to Young Learners


Book Description

Aimed at student teachers, educators and practitioners, Teaching English Language to Young Learners outlines and explains the crucial issues, themes and scenarios relating to this area of teaching. Each chapter by a leading international scholar offers a thorough introduction to a central theme of English as a foreign language (EFL) with preteens, with clear presentation of the theoretical background and detailed references for further reading, providing access to the most recent scholarship. Exploring the essential issues critically and in-depth, including the disadvantages as well as advantages of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) with young learners, topics include: - task-based learning in the primary school; - storytelling; - drama; - technology; - vocabulary development; - intercultural understanding; - Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) scenarios; - assessment. Innovative and rapidly emerging topics are covered, such as immersion teaching, picturebooks in the EFL classroom and English with pre-primary children.




Pathways Through Assessing, Learning and Teaching in the CEFR


Book Description

Pathways presents an innovative way of reflecting on the multidimensionality of assessment, learning and teaching in line with the CEFR. It has been designed to support professionals at all levels. The two main components of Pathways - guide and kit - integrated by various indexes, mind maps and examples of scenarios, encourage users to work in a non linear way and to select and customize. The guide addresses those fundamental concepts in the CEFR that may not be readily transparent and that especially warrant "unpacking" for educational practices in a way that is clear and accessible for professionals, both in their pre- and in-service teacher education. The kit offers 107 worksheets, which serve as a bridge for teacher educators and teachers, to reflect on these concepts and to relate them appropriately to pedagogical practices.




Common European Framework of Reference for Languages


Book Description

This book contains descriptor scales which describe the linguistic skills needed by language learners to become competent speakers of another language.




Communicative Language Teaching in Action


Book Description

Communicative Language and Teaching in Action: Putting Principles to Work serves as an engaging and informative guide for second and foreign language teachers in training or for those pursuing a new career as language educators. The text demonstrates principles and practices of communicative and task-based language teaching, equipping readers with an innovative and effective approach to language instruction. The conceptual foundation of the book is based upon theoretical and empirical findings drawn from second language acquisition research, cognitive psychology, and brain research. It emphasizes successful instructional practices in a communicative and task-based approach to language learning. The book features copious examples of learning activities in different languages and lessons developed by experienced language teachers. Dedicated chapters cover the principles of communicative language teaching and task-based instruction; lesson planning; vocabulary and grammar in language learning; feedback and error correction; the development of listening, oral communication, reading, and writing skills; and assessment. The second edition features updated literature review in all chapters, new and dynamic teacher-training tasks, and reorganized and fresh content throughout the text, as well as a new chapter on writing and language learning. Communicative Language Teaching in Action is an ideal resource for courses and programs in foreign language education.




Developing and Designing Materials for English Language Teaching and Learning


Book Description

One of the tools that English language teachers use to effectively carry out English language teaching and learning is materials. In this context, English language teachers and English language teacher candidates must have the necessary knowledge and skills regarding creating and designing English language teaching and learning materials. For this reason, in many universities around the world, courses related to material design and development are taught in departments that train English language teachers. Following current developments in foreign language materials design and development is a priority for publishing houses, especially those that design textbooks in the light of current approaches. Thus, this book provides textbook publishers and English language teacher trainees, teachers, academicians and practitioners with the current theoretical and practical directions in developing, designing, and implementing materials to enhance foreign language learning and use.




Task-Based Language Teaching


Book Description

A comprehensive account of the research and practice of task-based language teaching.