English Language Teaching Newsletter – Page 2

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Video: Krashen and language acquisition

Stephen Krashen makes more sense than a library of books on language acquisition and ESL teaching methodology. LingQ follows Krashen’s precepts with a few different features.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – eBook of the week: Context in Language Learning and Language Understanding

The papers in this volume represent the views of a range of experts in a variety of language-related disciplines on the role which context plays in language learning and language understanding.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Book of the week: Rainbow

Rainbow is a new two-level reading series taking students from pre-intermediate level (Student’s Book 1) to intermediate level (Student’s Book 2).

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Cambridge ELT Interview with Michael Handford

Listen to a podcast in which Michael Handford is interviewed by his colleague, Petr Matous. Petr Matous is Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Tokyo, specialising in infrastructure development and social networks.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – David Crystal – Is control of English shifting away from British and American native speakers?

Is control of English shifting away from British and American native speakers? Global English with Professor David Crystal. Another innovative feature of Global – Macmillan’s new course for adult learners of English.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Research Paper: ‘The Confusing Role of Teacher in the Era of Technology and the Use of ICT in Education’ by Dr. Chetan Trivedi

“We shape our tools,” McLuhan said, “and then our tools shape us.” The quote raises the question: Do we create our own destinies or become subordinate and play into the hands of forces beyond us? Technology, according to McLuhan, is an extension of our own natural faculties. Every technology is, likewise, an extension of our own natural powers, born out of some natural need or the other. “This is to say that technology can be understood in terms of final cause, or purpose, and that purpose is a purpose of the living human being.” Technology, therefore, has a relation to the need and purpose and cannot be otherwise. As such, technology has an important role in linking people at the grass-roots level to the outside world. There are many examples in rural areas of how technology is helping people to take informed decisions. Technology will continue to play a decisive role in ushering change in the rural areas.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Research Paper: ‘Influence of Culture in ESL Learning in Jaffna, Sri Lanka’ by Vairamuthu Suntharesan

Since English has been branded as an international language, teaching for linguistic competence can not be isolated from teaching for intercultural competence. Yet intercultural communication has not been paid due attention to in ESL teaching in Sri Lanka. It prompts us to realize the fact that Sri Lankan students of English may master English in terms of its grammar and linguistic aspects but encounter several problems in intercultural communication. This article aims to pay more attention to intercultural communication in English language teaching to develop students’ intercultural communicative competence. Further, the article emphasizes increasingly important role of intercultural communication in English language teaching and the necessity to develop students’ intercultural communicative competence. Sample learning and teaching activities are presented to be integrated in ESL teaching and learning. As per data elicited by the author, an enlightenment of the cultural norms and values of native speakers of English to students of English as a Second language would cushion against the ‘culture shock’ learners may experience during the learning process. Further, the comparison learners’ own culture with the foreign culture in the classroom would facilitate learning.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Research Paper: ‘Innovative Techniques of Research Methods in Teaching English’ by Mrs. Raji Dhinakar

In this paper various techniques for organizing and managing the class are explored. These techniques aim to help the teachers to become more professional and efficient in their approach so that the students have confidence in the teachers competence. In particular we consider the balance between having a friendly relaxed relationship with the class and maintenance of discipline.

Vol. 4 Issue 29 – Video: Teacher+Learner=Turner

Being passionate about teaching, coupled with a personal mission to provoke thinking and independence in learning, my prezi taps on the necessity for teachers to view themselves as partner learners who look into matters from different perspectives, directions and ways to tear down walls constructed by a too familiar system.