Vol. 4 Issue 44 – Video: Empowering the Language Learner

The New School for Public Engagement is a division of The New School, a university in New York City offering distinguished degree, certificate, and continuing education programs in art and design, liberal arts, management and policy, and the performing arts. | http://www.newschool.edu/public-engagement.

Vol. 4 Issue 44 – Book Review: 'English for Academic and Professional Skills (2012)' by Anand Mahanand

Over the years, substantial shift in theory, belief and practice have occurred in the teaching and learning of English language specifically from general to specific purposes. Unlike focusing on general English, there has been a shift in focus to teach only those aspects of language which learners’ need and expected to need. This demand has paved the way for the emergence of a new area called ‘English for Academic Purposes’ where much of the instruction is given for academic development of the learners. Many learners especially from regional medium backgrounds are yet to develop the linguistic resources necessary for academic and professional competence. Most of them often find problems in academics at higher level. Majority of them enter into higher education ill-equipped and some find the tasks of academic reading, writing, and grammar difficult. The present academic scenario focuses on and demands students’ academic reading and writing skills such as skimming, scanning, note making, note taking, essay writing, paragraph writing and summary writing, paper writing, resume writing and so on. Implementation of effective methods supplemented with effective materials is essentially required to ensure students’ mastery of academic skills and to bring about positive outcomes in students’ academic and professional performances.

ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue 43

ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue#43 | October 22, 2012 | ISSN 0975-3036 Video: Teaching Speaking with Task-Based Learning Book Review: ‘English Language Teaching: Perspective from Periphery (2012)’ by Anand Mahanand Webinar: A trip down the memory lane of methodology, November 29 Video: Jack C. Richards on Listening Comprehension Video: Seven Ways of Looking at Grammar Article: ‘Soft… Continue reading ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue 43

Vol. 4 Issue 43 – Webinar: A trip down the memory lane of methodology, November 29

As we walk down the memory lane of English language teaching, we can see a correlation between the trends in the most popular language acquisition theories of its time, and the application of such assumptions into the language classroom. Whether it be Krashen’s ‘affective filter’ hypothesis translating into humanistic approaches, such as suggestopedia, or Searle’s speech acts giving rise to the functional syllabus, practioners have tried to apply theory to practice in a way that best helps learners to best acquire the language. But we don’t always get it right.

Vol. 4 Issue 43 – Video: Teaching Speaking with Task-Based Learning

When students work on tasks in pairs or small groups, they use language at every step: planning, executing, and presenting. This demonstration shows students planning and describing their own Utopian societies.

Vol. 4 Issue 43 – Video: Seven Ways of Looking at Grammar

What is grammar, and how is it internalized in the mind? Is it made up of symbolic code or of neural connections? Is it a sedimented trace left by previous conversations or an innate human capacity? Our answers to these questions obviously shape the way we go about teaching second languages.

Vol. 4 Issue 43 – Book Review: 'English Language Teaching: Perspective from Periphery (2012)' by Anand Mahanand

There is a need to undertake serious research studies catering to the needs of these demands of the marginalized and underprivileged sections of our society. Proper Investigations are necessary to discover how far English Language Teaching (ELT) can be integrated with the indigenous culture of the learners, how far learners can be trained to use English for their academic purposes and how best literature can be used in English language teaching and learning. There are few books which address all the above issues as successfully and succinctly as Anand Mahanand’s ‘English Language Teaching: Perspective from Periphery’.

Vol. 4 Issue 43 – Article: 'Soft Skills – Indispensable for Success' by B.Shoba Rao

Today soft have become very important and is the key mantra to success in both the professional and personal front.Soft skills is now a subject in most colleges in Chennai and students have to take an exam that gets them credits. With India emerging as a hub for different out sourcing activities, employers want their employers to have soft skills along with the technical or hard skills. Teachers therefore, do play an important role in enhancing soft skills among students at the tertiary level from where most of them refer to go for an employment.Academicians,course planners and material producers, collaborators and people at the helm of affairs are looking at how best these skills go to the students and they use them at work to bring success not only for themselves and the organization they work.