INTEGRATED SKILLS

GOWER, G. Teaching Practice. Ch.5: Developing skills and strategies.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

What is language learning?O Not only acquisition of language.O Not just something we learn about.O Rather, a set of skills, something we

learn to do.

O So, students need meaningful and interactive practice in the skills, in order to learn to USE the language.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

Language skills

Productive skillsReceptive skills

Classroom Techniques for Receptive skills are often similar.

Productive skills lessons also share many similarities.

Listening Reading Speaking Writing

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

O In real life, language skills never occur in isolation.O In conversations, we listenlisten and speakspeak.O When filling in a form, we readread and

writewrite.O When taking notes, we listenlisten and write.write.

O Often the use of one skill leads on naturally to another.O We see a film, and we talk about it later.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

How can you integrate skills in a lesson?

O As in real life, skills are integrated with one activity leading on to another:

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

Example 1A lesson for intermediate level students, based on a

newspaper article.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

T introduces topic, Ss say what they know and discuss what they could find in the article.

Ss read the newspaper article and complete tasks: Reading comprehension, vocabulary development, etc

Ss could write a letter to the editor in response to the article, or write a similar article

SPEAKING READING WRITING

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

Example 2A lesson for lower level students about finding

accommodation.

Stage 1

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 4

Ss read a newspaper advertisement, focusing on some of the special vocabulary

Ss complete some tasks:

Roleplay / informaion gap activity with a possible telephone conversation with the landlord (asking questions and making an appointment to see the flat)

Ss listen to a short piece of conversation between the landlord and someone being shown round the flat.

Ss write a letter to a friend describing their new flat.

READING SPEAKING LISTENING WRITING

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

Why is it useful to integrate skills?

O It allows for the practice of Lg. as in the real world.

O Integrated lessons are more satisfying for learners. They offer more variety

O One single topic can be fully explored, and vocabulary can be practised and recycled.

O The same context or text can be used for another activity, so the teacher does not have to waste time setting up something new.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

Practical Work

O Get into groups of three students.

O Talk about your “Proficiency” “Proficiency” or “Text & Use” “Text & Use” lessons that you’ve had during the first week.

O Describe one of those lessons, stating clearly the stage, the activity and the skill developed with each activity. (As in slide #7)

O Once finished, share your lesson with the rest of the class.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS