How To Teach English
A Brief History of ELT
Magdalena Fijałkowska
Warsaw Summer School 2012 How To Teach English: A Brief History of ELT
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METHODS, APPROACHES, PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES
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approach – theories about the nature of language and language learning; it describes how
people learn languages and conditions for successful learning
method – practical realization of the approach; a set of procedures and techniques
technique – e.g. running dictation or silent viewing
procedure – an ordered sequence of technique
ELT TIMELINE
1800
1900
1930
1945
1950
1970
1970
1977
1980
1983
1987
1990
2002
Grammar Translation
Direct Method
The Oral Approach/Situational Language Learning
The Audio-Lingual Method
Silent Way1970 Suggestopedia
Total Physical Response
Neuro Linguistic Programming
The Natural Approach
Communicative Approach
Multiple Intelligences
Task Based Learning
Lexical Approach
Dogme
THE DIRECT METHOD
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the Natural Method (Saveur) leading to the Direct Method (Berlitz)
revolutionary, encouraging direct and spontaneous use of language
classroom instructions only in target language
only every day vocabulary and sentences taught
oral progression through systematic question-answer exchanges between teacher and
students
use of demonstration, objects, pictures
THE ORAL APPROACH
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movement lead by Palmer and Hornby in 1930s
vocabulary control (frequency studies)
focus on grammar content selection (spoken language grammar)
principles of selection, gradation, presentation
new language practiced situationally
AUDIO- LINGUALISM
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1945
stems from behaviourist models of learning
stimulus – response – reinforcement
drills used to form habits
language de-contextualised
Warsaw Summer School 2012 How To Teach English: A Brief History of ELT
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THEORY OF LANGUAGE ACQUISION
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by Noam Chomsky
principle of innateness
children have natural pre-condition for language learning
babies are born with the innate knowledge of language structure
LAD is a mental model of how languages work
THE NATURAL APPROACH
By Steven Krashen
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all students learn in the same way
comprehensible input in a low anxiety environement
speaking does not help learning
the quiet listening stage
motivation / self-esteem / zero anxiety
THE SILENT WAY
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by Caleb Gategno
teacher says as little as possible
learner discovers and creates language
learner in the driving seat, teacher facilitates
Cuisenaire rods, pointing at objects
SUGGESTOPAEDIA
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by Georgi Lozanov
physical surroundings and atmosphere in the classroom
‘infantilisation’, parent-teacher relationship
part 1: oral review, previously learnt material used for discussion
part 2: presentation and discussion of new dialogue material
part 3: ‘concert’ – baroque music and listning to teacher reading the dialogue
music frequently used in class
TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE
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by James Asher
foreign language learning similar to first language acquisition
actions, physical response
language processing matched with physical response
pre-speaking stage important
PRESENTATION, PRACTICE, PRODUCTION
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a variation on audio-lingualism
a situation gives context
P: presentation makes use of a picture
P: cue-response drill practice
P: production: immediate creativity
Warsaw Summer School 2012 How To Teach English: A Brief History of ELT
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THE COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
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a desire to communicate
a communicative purpose
content not form
variety of language
no teacher intervention
no materials control
TBL - TASK BASED LEARNING
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popularized by N Prabhu, working with schools in India
focus on non-linguistic problem
deep end strategy
stages: pre-task / task cycle / language focus
teacher no longer in control
COMMUNITY LANGUAGE LEARNING
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by Charles Curran, professor in psychology in Chicago
students sit in a circle
students decide what they want to talk about
a councellor standing on the outside provides correct language
students utterances recorded to be analysed later
class is ‘community’
HUMANISTIC TEACHING
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influenced by CLL and Suggestopaedia
Caring and Sharing in the Foreign Language Classroom, Gertrude Moscowitz
Making students feel good and remember happy times while at the same time practicing the
language
Working with real lives and feelings
Using the students themselves as the topic
THE LEXICAL APPROACH
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popularized by Michael Lewis (1990s)
multi-word prefabricated chunks
fluency is the result of acquisition of a large store of fixed and semi-fixed prefabricated items
collocations, idioms, phrases
CONTENT AND LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING
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foreign language used as the medium to introduce curriculum subjects
e.g. Vichy France, Nazi Germany, the Spanish Civil War
builds intercultural knowledge and understanding
develops intercultural communication skills
increases learners' motivation and confidence in both the language and the subject being
taught
Warsaw Summer School 2012 How To Teach English: A Brief History of ELT
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THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
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by Howard Gardner, 1983
spatial
linguistic
logical-mathematical
bodily-kinesthetic
musical
interpersonal
intrapersonal
naturalistic
also moral and existentialist
ARC by Jim Scrivener
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Authentic use
Restricted Use
Clarification
Different procedures eg CACACR
‘the many ways in which teachers can work’
OHE by Michael Lewis
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Observe
Hypothesize
Experiment
ESA by Jeremy Harmer
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Engage
Study
Activate
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Richards & Rodgers, Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching
Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of English Language Teaching
Vaughan Jones talking about anecdotes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6s3XAtfG0Q
Baroque music for concentration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeyQ9Rk9Zvk
Diane Larsen Freeman, Teachong Methods, Suggestopeadia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g6hyZqrPnY
Suggestopaedia Gregori Lozanov life and work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJG7fLpm1c&feature=related
Suggestopedia explained by Lonny Gold http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX4JFEUgqlg
Lonny Gold 1/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rL-iuIO-YQ – Lonny Gold 3/5
TPR Playway with English, CUP, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkMQXFOqyQA story tpr
sequence with Gunter Gerngross
Noam Chomsky cartoon interview on Theory of Language Acquisition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVfrrGOnFJk&feature=related
Pavlov’s Dog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxEN54ho
 Steven Krashen on Language Acquisition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTsduRreug
Warsaw Summer School 2012 How To Teach English: A Brief History of ELT
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