Trends in ELT

Why and how ?!

Mahmoud AbdelaalEnglish InstructorTeacher TrainerIntel Teach Senior Trainer

:// 3 . .http nata alam intel com

Did you use any of these items ?

Do you think these devices will exist after 50 years?

What type of classroom did you have ?

Which one describes your classroom or school?

   21st Century Classrooms 20th Century Classrooms 

• Student-centered:  teacher is facilitator/coach

• Teacher-centered:  teacher is center of attention and provider of information

• Outcome-based • Time-based

• Focus:  what students Know, Can Do and Are Like after all the details are forgotten.

• Focus:  memorization of discrete facts

• Research-driven • Textbook-driven

• Active Learning • Passive learning

• Global Classroom • Learners work in isolation – classroom within 4 walls

• Self, Peer and Other assessments.  Public audience, authentic assessments.

• Teacher is a judge.  No one else sees student work.

Table was created by Anne Shaw, Founder and Director, 21st Century Schools, www.21stCentury Schools.com

Key Trends in ELT Today

Updating

PPP Lesson

Locally produced materials

Communicativeness Sharing with a colleague

Anti-method era

Frustration

Future trend

Teachers read journal, participate in training, seminar workshops, etc to update their knowledge of trends & techniques around the world

PresentationPracticeProduction

Imported materials may not be effective in other countries

The focus in on how learners can be made proficient to communicate to others who speak the same TL

Uncertain. Keep predicting the future of existing trends and a wave of change.

Teachers find a sollution to a teaching problem, speak in confidence about a failure, get an idea how to teach effectively

No method is the best for ELT. ELT is now in ‘post method thinking’

Teachers have not been able to follow the trends due to lack of resources available to them

Key Trends in ELT Today

Networking

Student -centered

Reflective Practice

Rethinking aim

Conferencing

Grammaring

Method synergetics or eclecticism

Strategopedia

Teachers can enrich their learning, not to depend upon theories & methods

Not depending on a particular method & not conforming to only one style, Choosing from a wide variety

Taking responsibility for self-direction to improve students’ learning effectiveness

Teachers play the role of facilitators in the class. Students learn by doing in pairs & groups

Teachers learn to improve their teaching by trying to observe, understand, reflect, learn, & tryout something happening in the class

Discussing what the aims of ELT should be. The need of an approach to language education that aims at fostering a sense of social responsibility in students

Teachers have established professional organizations; seminars, workshops, tarining, and conventions

Grammar is seen as more of a process than a product. Grammar is is conceived in its active & progressive sense

Globalization and English

•English is the language of global communication

•According to the British Council:▫First language by 375 million▫Around 750 million speak English

as a foreign language▫2/3 of world’s scientists read in

English▫3/4 of world’s mail is in English▫80% of world’s electronic data

is in English

English in the Workplace

• English is the main language of:▫Books and newspapers▫Airports and air traffic control▫ International business▫Academic conferences▫Science and technology▫Diplomacy▫Sports and international

competitions▫Pop music▫Advertising

English in Education

• Increasing number of students attending universities abroad

• English increasingly used as medium of instruction▫Colleges and

universities becoming English-medium

▫Requires a very high level of English proficiency by both students and instructors

The Trickle-Down EffectGreater need for advanced English proficiency among students

Greater need for highly trained and proficient English teachers at all levels

Higher education requirements for English teachers and greater necessity for professional development

The Trickle-Down EffectThe good news :

If you are highly proficient in English, well-educated, and up-to-date on current methodology and theory, you are IN HIGH DEMAND

The bad news :This means work. Lots of work.

The Paradigm Shift

“…We have a system of education that is modeled on the interests of industrialism and in the image of it…Schools are still pretty much organized on factory lines: ringing bells, separate facilities, specialized into separate subjects…It’s essentially about conformity and…I believe we’ve got to go in the exact opposite direction.”

--Sir Ken Robinson, “Changing Education Paradigms”

Partnership for 21st Century Skills In the

PastOnly teaching language

Focus on isolated skills (listening, speaking,

reading, writing)

Using the textbook as curriculum

Emphasis on teacher as presenter/lecturer

TodayUsing language as the

vehicle to teach academic content

Focus on three modes: interpersonal,

interpretive, and presentational

Use of thematic units and authentic resources

Emphasis on learner as “doer” and “creator”

Partnership for 21st Century Skills In the

PastUse of technology as a

“cool tool”

Same instruction for all students

Confining language learning to the classroom

Students “turn in” work only for the teacher

TodayIntegrating technology

into instruction to enhance learning

Differentiating instruction to meet individual needs

Seeking opportunities for learners to use language

beyond the classroom

Learners create to “share and publish” to audiences more than just the teacher

The New Education• 360,985,492 Internet users worldwide as of June

30, 2012▫34.3% of world population ▫a 566.4% increase from 2000 (ITU)

• “Digital natives,” “digital immigrants,” and “digital outcasts” (Prensky 2001)

It’s a Small World, After All

• Interconnectedness via globalization and technology makes the world smaller▫THEN: Students had little experience with other

cultures or languages▫NOW: Familiarity with other cultures and languages

is expected and essential for upward mobility• Beginning to see a leveling of the playing field

▫Students outside of academic areas (anywhere with Internet) now have access to information and culture

▫Online courses becoming standard▫Youtube videos and MOOCs available to anyone

Online Classes Becoming the Norm•Online course enrollment in the US at an

all-time high•Negative perceptions of online courses

changing

The New Meaning of Technology

Technology of the Past:

Content basedPassive role of user

Stand-aloneUsed by individuals

Technology of the Future:Collaboration basedActive role of user

Integrated Used by groups

Behaviorist or Connectivist Pedagogy

Socio-Constructivist

Pedagogy

Don’t Panic, It’s a Good Thing…

New Paradig

m

Motivation

Higher-level cognition

Differentiated

instruction

What Does This Mean?

#1 :We are all materials developers.

•Constructing and co-constructing textbooks and materials▫Flip books▫Online publishing▫Class websites▫Instructor blogs▫LMS/CMS support

#2 :Students are materials developers too .

•Students are active participants in their education▫Creating content

for classes▫Working in groups

with clear roles▫Publishing and

sharing classwork

#3: Print media isn’t enough.

•Incorporate a wide variety of multimedia sources▫eBooks▫Peer-to-peer file sharing▫Audiovisual assignments▫Google docs▫Wikis

#4 :We need new methods.“Sage on the

stage” to “Guide on the

side”

Flipping the Classroom

•Content is presented outside the classroom via videos, readings, and other materials

•Time in the classroom is used for application, discussion and collaboration, not lecturing

Source: Center for Teaching & Learning, University of Texas – Austinhttps://ctl.utexas.edu/teaching/flipping_a_class/what_is_flipped

Benefits of the Flipped Classroom•Students can pause, rewind, rewatch

videos or audio files•Instructors can incorporate more

authentic materials•Works better with different learning styles•Easier to make accommodations for

students•Builds working relationships between

students•Engages students in collaboration and

reflection

#5 :We have to innovate. A lot.

•Globalization and technology are changing our perceptions of:

Culture

Language

AutonomyRelationships

Happiness

#6 :We can’t do it all ourselves.

• SHARE!▫ Share new ideas and research

with colleagues▫ Encourage colleagues to share

with one another• Develop communities of practice

▫ Non-evaluative spaces to try out new ideas

▫ Co-teaching, peer mentoring• Allow yourself to learn

▫ Take classes (online classes are a double help!)

▫ Attend conferences and webinars on nata3alam and other CMSs.

▫ Open your mind to radical new concepts

One last word

We need to prepare our students for their future

… Not for our past

Thank you

nata3alam.intel.com