Article: Why Teachers Should Introduce Presentation Practice into English Language Classes

[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 22 | September 15, 2014 | ISSN 0975-3036]

The OUP ELT blog has published an article dealing with international tests.

Many people are terrified of speaking in public, even though it probably isn’t true that it edges out death at the top of the list of most common fears.  My first presentation was over ten years ago at a local conference for English teachers. I was very nervous and not at all confident speaking in front of my peers. I don’t really remember much about the presentation, but since then I’ve gone on to give more than 100 talks at conferences, events, and seminars. I’m now pretty happy in front of a room full of strangers, and presenting has become one of the most enjoyable parts of my job.

There are several good reasons to introduce presentation and public speaking practice into our EFL and ESL classes. The first and most important is that effective presentation and public speaking skills are a valuable life skill. Many of our learners will need them in the future, and appreciate the chance to practice them now. Presentation practice also allows teachers to introduce personalisation and different topics into classes. Learners can choose the content they present, and this brings a variety of information and ideas into the classroom. Learners can learn more about each other, and presentations can also be an easy way to break up a course and provide a change of pace.

(more…)

Continue ReadingArticle: Why Teachers Should Introduce Presentation Practice into English Language Classes

English Language Teacher Educator Conference – Hyderabad, February 2015

[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 22 | September 15, 2014 | ISSN 0975-3036]

The British Council in partnership with English and Foreign Languages University (EFL-U) Hyderabad will come together again to host the fifth International English Language Teacher Educator Conference (TEC15) in Hyderabad from 27 February – 1 March 2015. The underlying theme of the previous conferences was improved learning outcomes through quality teacher education and teaching. This year, we will focus on ensuring quality in teacher education in the belief that quality in teachers’ learning leads to better learning outcomes for our learners.

The bottom line of teacher education is the quality of teacher performance in terms of its impact on the learner and indirectly on larger social transformation. (National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education 2009/10 p. 4)

The theme will allow a wide-ranging exploration of teacher education in India and beyond, with a focus on quality in both pre-service education and in-service training. Key policy initiatives and documents in India such as the Teacher Education Mission launched in April 2013, the NCFTE (cited above) and the Planning Commission of India’s 12th Five Year Plan highlight issues of quality as fundamental to all aspects of the initial and continuing professional development of teachers, whether it is delivered face to face or online, moderated or self access.

For more information, visit conference website.

(more…)

Continue ReadingEnglish Language Teacher Educator Conference – Hyderabad, February 2015

‘Communicative Language Teaching – A rescue to English beginners’ by Reena Mittal

[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 22 | September 15, 2014 | ISSN 0975-3036]

This article is submitted by Reena Mittal. 

CLT was introduced in late 1970s in European countries for making those familiar with English whose first language is not English. It is an approach to language teaching in which both teacher and student participate enthusiastically and learn simultaneously. The main focus of CLT is to develop skills with new academic ideas by which English teaching and learning both become interesting and easier. CLT is the approach of teaching which contain following qualities:-

  • learning through interaction
  • Introducing text according to learning situation
  • Main focus on learning process
  • Teacher’s personal experience is the actual book.
  • To connect classroom with outside world by giving new activities.

(more…)

Continue Reading‘Communicative Language Teaching – A rescue to English beginners’ by Reena Mittal
Newer Posts
Older Posts