Getting beyond the wall in language class

BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL

IN LANGUAGE CLASS

-By ThuyAnh Nguyen –-EFL Conference-

Hue, Vietnam, August 2006

Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

CommunicationCommunication

Standard 1.1:Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversation, Students engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.and emotions, and exchange opinions.

Standard 1.2:Standard 1.2: Students understand and Students understand and interpret written and spoken languages on a interpret written and spoken languages on a variety of topics.variety of topics.

Standard 1.3:Standard 1.3: Students present information, Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.readers on a variety of topics.

"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

CulturesCultures CulturesCultures - Gain Knowledge and - Gain Knowledge and

Understanding of Other CulturesUnderstanding of Other Cultures Standard 2.1:Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an Students demonstrate an

understanding of the relationship between understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the the perspectives and practices of the culture studied.culture studied.Standard 2.2:Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the the perspectives and products of the culture studied. culture studied.

"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

ComparisonComparison Connect With Other Disciplines and Connect With Other Disciplines and

Acquire InformationAcquire Information Standard 3.1:Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and Students reinforce and

further their knowledge of other disciplines further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.through the foreign language.Standard 3.2:Standard 3.2: Students acquire Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. the foreign language and its cultures.

"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

ConnectionConnection Develop Insight Into the Nature of Develop Insight Into the Nature of

Language and CultureLanguage and Culture Standard 4.1:Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate Students demonstrate

understanding of the nature of language understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of the language though comparisons of the language studied and their own.studied and their own.Standard 4.2:Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. studied and their own.

"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

CommunitiesCommunities Participate in Multilingual Communities at Participate in Multilingual Communities at

Home and Around the WorldHome and Around the World Standard 5.1:Standard 5.1: Students use the language Students use the language

both within and beyond the school setting.both within and beyond the school setting.Standard 5.2:Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. enrichment.

"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Using 5 C’s in Using 5 C’s in Vietnamese classVietnamese class

CommunicationCommunication

Use target language in classUse target language in classStudent centered approachStudent centered approachCommunicative activities and discussionCommunicative activities and discussion

CulturesCultures Authentic culture-related materialsAuthentic culture-related materials- Books, legends and folktalesBooks, legends and folktales- AudioAudio- VideosVideos- PicturesPictures- WebsitesWebsites

ComparisonComparison Discussion in class with comparison Discussion in class with comparison

between Vietnam and America based between Vietnam and America based on topics in classon topics in class

ConnectionConnection The use of technology and other The use of technology and other

source to make connection to their source to make connection to their studystudy

Connect their life in what they studyConnect their life in what they study

CommunitiesCommunities Reach out to Communities to learn Reach out to Communities to learn

more of the language and culturemore of the language and culture- Family communicationFamily communication- Friends from VietnamFriends from Vietnam- Chat, emails in VietnameseChat, emails in Vietnamese- InterviewInterview

Identifying the obstacles in Identifying the obstacles in the classroomthe classroom

The class setting is restricted by the FOUR The class setting is restricted by the FOUR WALLS:WALLS:

- textbook knowledge onlytextbook knowledge only- tests as evaluationtests as evaluation- teachers as the only resourceteachers as the only resource

The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible obstacleobstacle

THE INVISIBLE FOURTH WALL

Definition of the 4Definition of the 4thth wall wall The Fourth Wall is a term to describe The Fourth Wall is a term to describe

the invisible wall between the the invisible wall between the audience and the actors on-stage. audience and the actors on-stage. This is because in This is because in proscenium theatersproscenium theaters, , the the setset was usually three walls of a was usually three walls of a room. The audience was therefore room. The audience was therefore "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the actors. When an actor addresses the actors. When an actor addresses the audience directly, it is called audience directly, it is called "Breaking the Fourth Wall.""Breaking the Fourth Wall."((Wikipedia, the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)free encyclopedia)

Breaking the 4Breaking the 4thth wall with wall with

PP’s approach’s approach

Suspension of disbelief: The term Suspension of disbelief: The term breaking the fourth breaking the fourth wallwall is used in film, theater, television, and literary is used in film, theater, television, and literary works; it refers to a character directly addressing an works; it refers to a character directly addressing an audience.audience.

In Language class: Students should In Language class: Students should not only be the audience, watching not only be the audience, watching the language, they should get more the language, they should get more involved in the process.involved in the process.

Breaking the 4Breaking the 4thth wall wall with P’s approachwith P’s approach

Get the students involved by using Get the students involved by using performance and project based performance and project based assessmentassessment

Quizzes, tests and exams should not Quizzes, tests and exams should not be the ONLY way to give assessmentbe the ONLY way to give assessment

Some ideas with projectsSome ideas with projects Writing journals using WIKI, BlogsWriting journals using WIKI, Blogs Mid-term assignment (interview with Mid-term assignment (interview with

report submission)report submission) Final projectFinal project

10 steps project Ideas10 steps project Ideas Agree on a themeAgree on a theme Determine the final outcomeDetermine the final outcome Structure the projectStructure the project Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Gather informationGather information Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Compile and analyze informationCompile and analyze information Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Present final productPresent final product Evaluate the projectEvaluate the project

The importance of The importance of CONNECTIONCONNECTION

in project in project

SummarySummary Be aware of the walls in the Be aware of the walls in the

language classlanguage class

CCombine the 5 ombine the 5 CCss

THE ENDTHE ENDTHANK YOU !THANK YOU !

By: ThúyAnh NguyễnBy: ThúyAnh Nguyễn

ESP Resource CentreESP Resource CentreHanoi University of Foreign StudiesHanoi University of Foreign Studies

Email: anh107@fpt.vnEmail: anh107@fpt.vn