Language learning resources (short version 2015)

UNIVERSITY OF CALDASSCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

MASTER’S DEGREE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

LANGUAGE LEARNING RESOURCESYAMITH JOSÉ FANDIÑO

Didactics and language learning resources

According to Oerbaek (2008), the term “didactics” originates from the Greek Didaskein, which means to teach, to educate.

In EFL, didactics is a major component of teacher education because it revolves around the answers to the questions “what”, “how”, and “why”.

Navarro and Piñeiro (2012) define didactics as the discipline that studies techniques, procedures, strategies, and methods to enhance the teaching process for students to approach in a wide, deep, and significant way knowledge… (p. 234).

John Amos Comenius (The great didactic)

The proper education of the young does not consist in stuffing their heads with a mass of words, sentences, and ideas dragged together out of various authors, but in opening up their understanding to the outer world, so that a living stream may flow from their own minds, just as leaves, flowers, and fruit spring from the bud on a tree.

Didactics and language learning resources

Language learning resources

Managing resources: equipment and teaching aidsHow Ts can use different resources to make lessons more interesting and effective. • The board• The OHP• Visuals• Worksheets & workcards• The Cassette recorder (The CD player)• Video• Computers • The photocopier

Published materials: coursebooks, skills books, readers, supplementary books, references books, resources books, CALL.

Authentic materials: theater programs, newspapers, magazines, songs, brochures, info. leaflets, menus, news broadcasts, films, etc.

(Gower, Walters & Philips, 2005)

Language learning resourcesMaterials and resources for ELT (Trujillo, Torrecillas & Salvadores, 2004)

• The blackboard• Visual aids• The textbook• Hand-made

materials

Traditional resources

• The OHP• The audio player• The video player

and camera

Audio and visual resources • Physical setting

• The internet• Off-line use• On-line use

ICT in the teaching of

English


(Harmer, 2004, pp. 175-176).

Language learning resources•Students themselves.

•Objects, pictures, and things: realia, pictures, cards, cuisenaire rods.

•The coursebook

•Ways of showing: the board, the OHP, the flip chart, computer-based presentation technology.

•Ways of listening: CDs, MP3

•Ways of finding out: dictionaries, concordances, the internet.

•Ways of composing: word processing/editing, mousepals, chat, blogging, authoring, website design.

•Virtual learning: from emails to simulated environments.(Harmer, 2004, pp. 176-194).


(Harmer, 2004)

RESOURCES ACTIVITIES

Students Thoughts – Experiences

Realia Stimulators / Evocative objects

Pictures Drills / Games / Understanding / Ornamentation / Prediction / Discussion

Cards Matching and ordering / Selecting / Card games

Cuisenaire rods Word stress / Structures / Prepositions

Coursebook Omit and replace / Change: add, rewrite, replace, reorder, reduce.

The board Note-pad / Explanation aid / Picture frame / public workbook / game board / Notice board


(Harmer, 2004)

RESOURCES ACTIVITIES

OHP Grammar exercises, pictures, diagrams, gradual work.

The flip chart Making notes, recording main points, group work.

Computer-based presentation

Computer and data projector, PowerPoint, IWB.

Dictionaries Paper dictionaries (bilingual or monolingual), CD-ROMs, electronic pocket dictionaries, online dictionaries.

Concordances Word research and vocabulary exploration.

The internet References, encyclopedias, webquests. Composing Word processing/editing, keypals, chatting,

blogging, authoring (hot potatoes), websites (Google sites)

Language learning resourcesThe role of materials in the language classroom (Crawford, 2002) - Attitudes

Debilitating crutch: Ts reduce to classroom technicians and

implementers.

Helpful scaffold: Materials as guides and negotiating points.

O’Neill (1982): Uniqueness of the class cannot be met.

Allwright (1981): Make decisions for Ts and Ss.

Nunan (1989): Fail to provide authentic models.

Walts (1989): Fail to contextualize.

Apple (1992): Materials are not neutral.

Loewenberg-Nall and Feiman-Nenser (1988): Assist inexperienced Ts.

Donoghue (1992): Source of info and support for experienced Ts.

Hutchinson and Torres (1994): - Agent for change: training, guidance, collegial support, clear picture.- A structuring tool = social routinisation reduces unpredictability and unfamiliarity.- A useful map: Negotiation, accountability, and orientation.


Resource What? How? Why?

The learner

The board

Visuals

Worksheets and workcardsComputers

ReferencesCrawford, J. (2002). Role of materials in language classroom: Finding the

balance. In J. Richards & W. Renandya (eds), Anthology of current practice (pp. 84-87). Australia: Cambridge University Press.

Harmer, J. (2004). The practice of English language teaching (4th edition). USA: Pearson Longman.

Gower, R., Walters, S., & Phillips, D. (2005). Teaching Practice: A Handbook for Teachers in Training. Oxford: Macmillan education.

Navarro, D., & Piñeiro, M. (2012). Didactic strategies for teaching English as a foreign language in seventh and eighth grades in secondary schools in Costa Rica. Káñina, Revista de Artes y Letras, Univ. Costa Rica, 36(2), 233-251.

Oerbaek, K. (2009). Didactics and didactisizing. (Unpublished PhD’s dissertation). University of Southern Denmark-Odense, Denmark.

Trujillo, F., Torrecilla, J., & Salvadores, C. (2004). Materials and resources for ELT. In D. Madrid & N. McLaren (Eds) TEFL in Primary Education (pp. 310-339). Granada: Editorial Universidad de Granada.