Learning a Foreign Language

Programa Inglés Abre PuertasUnidad de Curriculum y Evaluación

Ministerio de Educación

What is a foreign language?

Learning a foreign language implies:•the mastering of words and sentences•the understanding of agreements and social meanings

It requires:•input•exposition•practice with others in authentic situations

It means:•to be able to understand and use the language in different communicative situations

Development of the skills

1. Which skills are «mainly» developed during a class period?

•Listening and reading comprehension•Writing expression

2. Which skills are you going to help develop?

•Listening comprehension and oral expression

The methodology includes:

1. using mainly, the foreign language as a means of communication;

2. starting with the receptive skills and systematically incorporating the productive skills( beginnning with reproduction and finally producing a written or an oral text);

The methodologyincludes:

3. having in mind communicative activities and meaningful tasks.

The role of vocabulary:

a key element for any speaking, listening, reading or

writing activity;

vocabulary can be presented and rewieved in many

different ways;

teach between 8 and 15 vocabulary words at a time.

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Ways of presenting the meaning of new items:

Illustration (picture, object)Concise definition (as in a dictionary)Detailed description(of appearance, qualities…)ExamplesDemostration (acting, mime…)Context (story or sentence in which the item occurs)SynonymsOppositeTranslationAssociated ideas

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Vocabulary activities

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How do we present and explain a new

grammatical structure?

In CONTEXT (not isolation) to be inferred by

students. In general, it should include both oral and

written forms, and both form and meaning.

Provide plenty of contextualized examples.

Visual materials can contribute to understanding.

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Which is the theme of the unit?

What is the grammatical aspectmentioned in the text?

Example 1:

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Teach students the vocabulary and the grammar they need to know to accomplish defined communicative tasks.

Remenber:

Include a listening activity in all the lessons;

train your students in following instructions, both orally and in writing;

organize them in pairs. Faster learners help the slower ones;

positive reinforcement is very important.

Thank you!