Since the 1990s learner autonomy has become more widely utilized by educators around the world (Little, 2007), but does it necessarily have a positive effect on motivation in second language classrooms? In an attempt to provide at least a partial answer to this question, a preliminary study was conducted in which students in an oral communication class at a Japanese university were given a degree of autonomy in part of the curriculum and then compared with a similar class in which no such autonomy was granted. Students in the dependent group made autonomous decisions as to how the teacher would assess their speaking effort, how feedback would be provided and how this portion of their grade would be calculated and assigned.
Category: ESL
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – BBC TeachingEnglish Article: Vocabulary and autonomy
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and the British Council has been helping to celebrate his 200th birthday. One way that we have done this is by making teaching materials which can help teachers introduce Dickens into their lessons.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – About.com Video: Spelling Differences in British and American English
The About.com ESL team says, “Writing a resume can be a difficult task if English is your second language. Watch this how-to video from About.com for easy tips and ideas for writing a resume”.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Video: What is Special About Language?
Noam Chomsky, a world-renowned linguist, intellectual and political activist lectured at the University of Arizona on Feb. 7, 2012, on “What is Special About Language?”
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Webinar: CLIL for secondary schools
In this session we will explore what works in CLIL. We will stress the final L in CLIL. Learning will be the focus of the session. In addition, we will unpick what is meant by CLIL in different contexts. Finally we will look at some strategies that are practical, learning centered and inclusive.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Book Of The Week: Easy English for Busy People
Communicate is a two-book video-based communication course specially written to improve listening and speaking skills for English students in upper-secondary classes. The course covers the areas such as English in the personal sphere, English at work, academic English and English in a public or social context.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Research Paper: ‘Teaching and Testing Intensive Speaking Skills’ by Mamta Amin & Nitin Pillai
Speaking skills are imperative to develop communication competence. However, the need of the hour is to define the kind of speaking to be taught to the students and helping them gain the expertise through engaging classroom practices and valid testing methods. This paper deals with the different theories of speaking before zeroing in on Intensive speaking and promotes a theoretically sound method of teaching and testing Intensive speaking for beginners.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – ELT Conference: ‘Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies in the 21st Century: Translocating / Transgressing Boundaries’ Dhaka, Bangladesh – May 25-26, 2012
We welcome both scholarly and creative submissions from the early career scholars and postgraduates including MPhil and Phd students who are studying and interested in the vibrant fields of English language, literatures in English, and cultural studies. We also offer graduate sessions to accommodate papers presented by the students in the MA and BA (Hons) programmes. There will be three WORKSHOPS and/or PLENARY SESSIONS that will address the formation of ‘boundaries’ erected by or around the academic disciplines. Confirmed plenary speakers include Prof. Fakrul Alam,University ofDhaka and Prof M Shahidullah,RajshahiUniversity.
Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Research Paper: ‘Impact of CALL Materials in Teaching English Grammar at Higher Secondary Level’ by Jagdish S. Joshi, Nita D. Parmar & Mehul N Rana
ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue#17 | April 23, 2012 | ISSN 0975-3036 This paper is submitted by Dr. Jagdish S. Joshi, Associate Professor, UGC-ASC, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Ms. Nita D. Parmar, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhinagar and Mehul N Rana, M.Phil. Research Scholar, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhinagar. Key Words: CALL, ELT, Innovation in teaching, Impact of CALL, Experimental… Continue reading Vol. 4 Issue 17 – Research Paper: ‘Impact of CALL Materials in Teaching English Grammar at Higher Secondary Level’ by Jagdish S. Joshi, Nita D. Parmar & Mehul N Rana
ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue 16
ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue#16 | April 16, 2012 | ISSN 0975-3036 Book Of The Week: Communicate – Article: ‘Graphic Organizers in ESL’ by Kenneth Beare ELTWO Research Paper: ‘Digital Storytelling in the Foreign Language Classroom’ by Hayo Reinders BBC TeachingEnglish Article: Using Dickens in class About.com Video:Learn ESL: How to Write a Resume… Continue reading ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue 16