CSI: Complete Saturation and Induction- Developing Inductive Language SkillsMIDTESOL ConferenceOctober 23, 2010

Kurtis FosterMissouri State University

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Complete Saturation & Induction

The Banking Model

What is it?Looking at the world and thinking of your own explanations for how it works.

Inductive Reasoning- WHY?

(Anderson, 1990) learners are better able to understand details if presented as part of a general concept.

(Stoller, 1997). Language Students benefit from problem solving and critical thinking

Inductive Reasoning- WHY?

(Spada & Lightbown,1993)- Students benefit from being a part of the learning process

-especially when required to voice their observations

(Pica, 1994)- learning improves when it requires students to reflect creatively and answer guided questions.

This process helps students develop their personal internal representation of the target language.

“The teacher's role is to provide meaningful contexts to encourage demonstration of the rule, while the students evolve the rules from the examples of its use and continued practice”

Rivers, Wilga M., Temperley, Mary S. A Practical Guide to the Teaching of English

as a Second or Foreign Language. Oxford University Press, 1978 - p.110 )

Inductive Reasoning

Which means…

Inductive Reasoning

You don’t have to tell them anything!

What it Really Means…

Ask questions first- before presenting grammar/rules.

Give more time for figuring out answers.

Encourage discussion between students.

Defer to class experts-different students each time, mind you.

Ask them more questions!

Advantages

Gets them talking Inductive activities require participation

in class and cooperation with other students.

Celce-Murcia, Dornyei, & Thurrell(1997) establish that students have better achievement when in this type of cooperative/communicative environment

Advantages

Increases learner motivation and autonomy Makes students more confident about

their own L2 abilities Invites them to do similar activities on

their own anytime they encounter unfamiliar input

Advantages

Enhances language awareness skills Get students to ask you about

Metalinguistic terms!

Advantages

Adjustable Can be used with basic spelling and

grammar, or more complex issues

Ex)

Advantages

Induction is a general framework Can be paired with any

theme/structure/competency Ex) Spy activity suite

How To:

SATURATE! With stories With corpus searches With themes

How To:

Let them find the answers! Guide with questions rather than giving

answers when students don’t understand

How To:

Make sure they understand Again, question first, tell later

How To:

RECAP! Believe it or not, ask more questions! Ellicit the review from students

Problems

False Hypotheses- They may acquire just enough

knowledge to be dangerous! Don’t leave students alone too long on

any subject At some point guide with questions

rather than forcing them to do it all on their own.

Problems

Exceptions- What happens when students find (or

already know) exceptions to the rules they have just discovered?

Be sure not to let these exceptions discourage students from using induction on their own.

References

Anderson, J. (1990) Cognitive Psychology and its Implications. New York: W. H. Freeman.

Celce-Murcia, M., Dornyei, Z., & Thurrell, S. (1997) Direct Approaches in L2 Instruction: A Turning Point in Communicative Language Teaching? TESOL Quarterly, 31: 141-152

Pica, T. (1994) Questions From the Language Classroom: Research Perspective. TESOL Quarterly, 28(1):

Rivers, Wilga M., Temperley, Mary S. A Practical Guide to the Teaching of English as a Second or Foreign Language. Oxford University Press, 1978 - p.110

Spada, N., & Lightbown, P. (1993) Instruction and Development of Questions in the L2 classroom. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 15:205-224.

Stoller, F. L., (1997) Project Work: A Means to Promote Language Content. English Teaching Forum. Vol. 35/4.