What am I going toteach my

English class?

Conceptualising Content for Foreign Language Activities

Presentation Overview

1.A look at the MEXT objective

2.Two assumptions about Foreign Language Activities

3.What language shall I teach?

4.How will the language will be used?

5.A word about objectives

Aim: To help teachers rather than the textbooks make decisions about the content of their classes

MEXT Objective

To form the foundation of pupils’ communication abilities through foreign languages while developing the understanding of languages and cultures through various experiences, fostering a positive attitude toward communication, and familiarizing pupils with the sounds and basic expressions of foreign languages.

What does it mean to develop understanding of languages and cultures?

To gain knowledge about languages and cultures?

To gain the ability to use the language and participate in the culture?

Something in between?

What does it mean to be familiar with the sounds and basic expressions of a language?

To have heard them?

To recognise them?

To be able to reproduce them?

To be able to use them?

Teachers’ voicesI just play games and try to make it fun

I just follow the textbook

I tried following the plan in the teachers’ book, but it was really boring

Two Assumptions

1.We are going to be teaching English

2.Since we will be teaching English, we want their students to be able to do something with English by the end of the course

Task

Look at the Teaching Taxonomy for ELLs

i. Tick the boxes for the language you would like / expect to cover in your class

ii. Compare and discuss your answers with other members of your group

What do children do with language?

1.They ask for information

2.They give information

i. About external things

ii. About their personal world

3. They demand actions

4. They interact with others

Task

Look at the Language Functions page.

Match the example sentences to the functions.

Asking for information

Giving informationDemanding

actionsInteracting with othersabout external

thingsabout their

personal world

c e d k g j a f i b h

TaskEach group will be assigned a section of the taxonomy

i. Look at the language you have chosen for your section. Decide how you want the students to use the language and list some vocabulary and expressions students could use

ii. Check the textbook for useful pages. Identify language not covered in the textbook

iii. Present your results to the group

A word on objectivesA good objective will include:

i. Subject

ii. A performance

iii. Conditions (if any)

iv. A measure

v. Criteria

Subject and performance:

The students will be able to...

Conditions

follow 3 step verbal directions

Measure:

Classroom observation

Completed task sheet

Self assessment (振り返カード )

Video of performance

etc

Criteria:

Success in getting the message across

Audibility

Eye contact

Gestures

etc

Homework task

Summarise your group’s presentation.

Write an objective for the function you selected.

Email the summary and objective to me at alt01@wakayama-wky.ed.jp