TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(TEFL)
“THE FOCAL SKILLS APPROACH”
DOSEN PENGAMPU :
JONTRA JUSAT PANGARIBUAN, S.PD., M.PD
WRITTEN BY :
ALDYAN SIDABUNGKE
NPM : 210930008
FAKULTAS KEGURUAN DAN ILMU PENDIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS
2023
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER I ......................................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3
CHAPTER II ........................................................................................................................................ 6
THE EXPERTS ..................................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER III ....................................................................................................................................... 8
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 8
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction to Focal Skills
Focal skills or focal abilities are special skills or abilities that are central or
heavily stressed within a specific context or discipline. These abilities are frequently
required for success in that setting, and they are the primary focus of training or growth.
In educational context, focal skills is a non-traditional program design and evaluation
regime that arranges intense foreign or second language training to coincide with
student-centered, communicative, skills-focused, and content-based language teaching.
The specific focal skills can vary widely depending on the field or domain.
The phrase "focal skills" emphasizes the idea that there are distinct core talents
that individuals must build and excel in order to achieve success or expertise in any
given topic. These abilities are frequently developed through practice, training, and
ongoing progress.
The Focal Skills program design restructures program design by sequentially
focusing attention on the development of one language skill area at a time until its
mastery to a chosen threshold level is reached. Assessments in Listening, Reading,
and Writing are used to determine whether the threshold level has been attained.
(Fakültesi et al., 2010)
Teaching practices in Focal Skills programs are heavily influenced by the work
of Stephen Krashen. There is an emphasis on comprehensible input using authentic
materials. Activities that would raise a student's affective filter are generally avoided.
The Focal Skills Movie Technique is an example of the kind of teaching used in this
approach. The technique uses authentic movies to bring an immense variety of meaning
into the classroom. By narrating and paraphrasing at the appropriate level of
complexity, the teacher can create a rich stream of comprehensible input that is directly
related to what the students are seeing and hearing.
The Focal Skills program model was first implemented at the Intensive English
as a Second Language Program at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and later
adopted, in whole or in part, at other intensive programs, including the English
Language Programme at the United Nations. Research indicates that students in focal
skills programs acquire English language proficiency faster than students in most other
types of Intensive English Programs (IEP). A number of studies have found that Focal
Skills students gain about 35% more English ability in a semester than other Intensive
English Program students.
The Focal Skills modular system places students in the major language skill
areas of Listening, Reading, and Writing according to their assessed skill level and
allows them to master each skill before moving on to the next. Each progressive skill
incorporates the previous skill for maximum learning potential. The Focal Skills
approach is designed to prepare students to successfully pass a TOEFL or other
equivalent exam and enable them to move on into college level work by using authentic
material and dynamic teaching techniques.
In summary, Focal Skills is a program design and assessment regime that
structures intensive foreign or second language instruction to align with studentcentered, communicative language teaching that is skills-focused and content-based.
The program design restructures program design by sequentially focusing attention on
the development of one language skill area at a time until its mastery to a chosen
threshold level is reached. The teaching practices in Focal Skills programs are heavily
influenced by the work of Stephen Krashen, and there is an emphasis on
comprehensible input using authentic materials. The Focal Skills modular system
places students in the major language skill areas of Listening, Reading, and Writing
according to their assessed skill level and allows them to master each skill before
moving on to the next.
1.2 Kinds of Focal Skills
The focal abilities required vary substantially depending on the setting, field, or
discipline in which you are interested. There is no single group of professionals who
specialize in "focal skills" in general. Instead, you'll find specialists in specific topics
or sectors who are well-known for their knowledge in specific abilities. Here are some
examples of focal skills in general context :
a. In Sports
Focal skills in sports might include techniques like shooting in football or
basketball, serving in tennis, or also dribbling in football. These skills are crucial
for athletes to excel in their respective sports.
b. In Education
In education, focal skills could be the fundamental skills taught in early
education, such as reading, writing, and basic mathematis. These are considered
foundational for further learning.
c. In Music
There is focal skills in music. For a musician, focal skills may involve mastering
an instrument, understanding music theory, and developing skills or composition
and improvisation.
d. In Computer Programming
Coding and problem-solving skills are often the focal skills in the field of
computer programming.
e. In Cooking
Knife skills, understanding flavor profiles, and basic cooking techniques are
focal skills for a chef or someone interested in culinary arts.
CHAPTER II
THE EXPERTS
2.1 Experts’ Opinion
The setting, field, or discipline in which you are interested substantially
influences your focal talents. There is no single expert group that specializes in "focal
skills" in general. Instead, you'll find specialists in specific subjects or regions who are
well-known for their knowledge of specialized abilities. Here are a few examples of
professionals in focal skills.
1. Howard Gardner
The first point refers to Howard Gardner's expertise in the field of psychology,
specifically his theory of multiple intelligences. Howard Gardner is a well-known
psychologist and educator who proposed the theory of multiple intelligences, which
calls into question the traditional notion of intelligence as a single, general cognitive
ability measured by IQ tests. (Gardner, H. (1983)
Gardner's multiple intelligences theory proposes that there are several distinct
types of intelligences, each representing a different set of cognitive skills or abilities.
Linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal,
intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligences are among them. Gardner's theory is based
on the idea that people have varying degrees of these various intelligences and can excel
in different areas. (Gardner, H. (1983)
2. Noam Chomsky
He is a highly influential linguist known for his pioneering work in linguistics,
particularly in the fields of language acquisition and generative grammar.
Chomsky's work on language acquisition has profoundly influenced our
understanding of how humans learn language. He proposed the theory of "universal
grammar," which holds that humans are born with an innate linguistic capacity that
allows them to naturally acquire language. According to Chomsky's theory, certain
linguistic structures and rules are shared by all languages, and children learn a
language by adapting to the linguistic input they receive. (Chomsky, n.d.)
3. Stiven Pinker
Steven Pinker is a well-known cognitive psychologist and linguist who
specializes in psycholinguistics, language, and cognition. His research focuses on
the relationship between language and the human mind, shedding light on how
language is processed and acquired, as well as how it influences human thought and
behavior. (Steven Pinker, 2008)
Pinker's research focuses on the relationship between language and cognitive
functions. He has investigated how language shapes thought and how linguistic
structures influence cognitive processes. His work challenges conventional wisdom
and emphasizes the importance of language in shaping our understanding of the
world. (Steven Pinker, 2014)
4. John Wells
John Wells, another well-known phonetician and author, has made significant
contributions to the field of English phonetics and pronunciation. His publications
and research have had a significant impact on pronunciation understanding. (Roach,
n.d.) John Wells' research focuses on the phonetic aspects of the English language,
such
as
sound
pronunciation
and
accent
variations.
(Baker_ann_ship_or_sheep_an_intermediate, n.d.)
2.2 Examples
1. Vowel Pronunciation
A key focal skill is accurate vowel pronunciation. Vowel sounds differ between
languages, and mastering the correct vowel sounds in a target language is critical
for clear and natural-sounding speech. In English, for example, distinguishing
between short and long vowel sounds such as the /i/ in "seat" and the // in "sit" is
critical for understanding.
2. Consonant Pronunciation
Consonant sounds, such as // in "think" or /z/ in "zebra," are focal sounds.
Producing and distinguishing consonant sounds correctly is essential for
understandable pronunciation in English and other languages.
3. Linking and Connected Speech
Understanding and using linking and connecting speech is a central skill. Words
are frequently linked together in the speech of many languages, including English.
For example, in the sentence "I don't know", the "t" in "don't" is often pronounced
like a flapping sound and the words come together, an essential skill for natural
pronunciation and fluently.
CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION
3.1 The Conclusion
The term "focal skills" is not a widely recognized concept in the field of
linguistics or pronunciation instruction. Therefore, there is no established conclusion or
specific sources related to this term. But in this topic, I discuss about Focal Skills in
Pronunciation. The conclusion that we can take from it is When practicing pronunciation,
students often focus on specific skills such as vowel and consonant sounds, stress and
intonation patterns, and connected speech to improve their overall speaking ability.
Improving these focal skills can improve one's ability to communicate effectively in a
second language significantly. It is critical to practice and receive feedback from
experienced language instructors or resources designed to assist students in developing
these skills.
REFERENCES
Chomsky, N. (1965). ASPECTS OF T H E THEORY OF SYNTAX. Cambridge: Fourteenth printing.
Gardner, H. (2011). Frames of Mind. USA: Basic Books.
Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetic and Phonology A Practical Course . Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Saldivia, P. M. (2012). Competency Based Education and the Focal Skills Approach. Valdivia:
Seminario de Tesis para optar al Título de Profesor(a) en Comunicación en Lengua Inglesa y
al Grado de Licenciado(a) en Educación.
Tok, H. (2010). TEFL textbook evaluation: From teachers’ perspectives. Educational Research and
Review.