Different views on the importance of age in SLA There are many different views among language researchers on the importance of age in SLA. Some believe that age has no influence on SLA and that the environment in which learning takes place is the key factor. Others believe that there is a critical ageContinue reading “Individual learner differences: the importance of age, learner aptitude and different learning styles in SLA”
Tag Archives: EFL
Consciousness raising and the foreign language learner
In their book on second language teaching (1988:51) , W. Rutherford and S. Sharwood Smith talk about the notions of “explicit” and “implicit” knowledge and the impact these have had on second language acquisition. They argue that helping our learners achieve the much desired goal of “spontaneous, unreflecting language use” will depend on manyContinue reading “Consciousness raising and the foreign language learner”
Developing reading fluency in a foreign language
What are the key issues we must focus on to help our EFL learners develop reading fluency in the foreign language? Here are some key points to consider when designing reading tasks for the EFL classroom Instilling the ‘reading bug’ to our learners may be one of the greatest achievements of a language teacher.Continue reading “Developing reading fluency in a foreign language”
Listening skills and strategies for the foreign language classroom
How can we turn listening from a passive skill to an active and engaging process for our learners?Here are 7 points to consider when designing listening tasks for the foreign language classroom. By Joanna Nifli (MA TEFL/CELTA certified EFL instructor) http://joannanifli.com Listening may be one of the passive skills in language teaching and learningContinue reading “Listening skills and strategies for the foreign language classroom”
The role of teacher talk in the foreign language classroom
How effective can teacher talk be in promoting language learning? Here are some points to consider on the input and feedback we give to our learners and on our level of involvement during the lesson The role of teacher talk, our overall involvement in the language lesson and our interaction with our students can playContinue reading “The role of teacher talk in the foreign language classroom”
Designing reading activities for the foreign language classroom: some key points to consider
Instilling the ‘reading bug’ to our learners may be one of the greatest achievements of a language teacher. We need to make our students want to read in the TL not because they have to but because they want to. This starts in the language classroom by choosing interesting texts, relevant to their age, levelContinue reading “Designing reading activities for the foreign language classroom: some key points to consider”
Introducing and practising new language in the EFL classroom
When we plan to focus on a new TL pattern (a new linguistic structure, a new grammar point etc.) there are several points to keep in mind. We must think of the most effective ways to introduce this new linguistic information, to grade the level of difficulty of the tasks according to our learners’Continue reading “Introducing and practising new language in the EFL classroom”
Lesson planning and its importance to effective language teaching
How can we create efficient lesson plans for the EFL classroom? Here are some key factors to take into account when designing the various stages of our English language lessons In how much detail should we plan? Harmer (2001) has described the stages of lesson planning in the following ‘planning continuum’: What should be includedContinue reading “Lesson planning and its importance to effective language teaching”
The role of input modification and internal language processing in foreign language learning
How can we promote L2 acquisition through the negotiation of meaning and input adaptation? Here are some points to consider on the role of comprehensible input and learner discourse modifications in the development of our learners’ interlanguage. With regard to L2 acquisition, a lot of research has been focusing on the role of inputContinue reading “The role of input modification and internal language processing in foreign language learning”
Teaching mixed proficiency levels
What are the problems and challenges in teaching multilevel classes? Here are some strategies to foster language learning and maintain learner motivation in heterogeneous classrooms “We do not teach a group, but thirty separate people. Because of this, the problem of mixed abilities in the same room seems absolutely natural and it is the ideaContinue reading “Teaching mixed proficiency levels”
The Art of TEFL 