th handbook 2014 - ningapi.ning.com/.../thhandbook2014.pdf · •...
TRANSCRIPT
CELTA course Handbook
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1/28/14 LA
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Table of Contents On the Other Side of the Door ....................................................................................................... 4 General Information ....................................................................................................................... 5 Internal complaints procedure: ...................................................................................................... 7 1. Record Keeping and Filing .......................................................................................................... 8 2. Teaching Practice ....................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Teaching Practice Points ...................................................................................................... 9 2.2 When you are not teaching – ‘TP Etiquette’ ...................................................................... 10 2.3 Teaching Practice Feedback ............................................................................................... 12 2.4 Teaching Practice: The Focus of Feedback ......................................................................... 14 2.5 The Phonemic Chart ........................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Lesson plans ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.6.1 Lesson Plan Front Page ................................................................................................ 19 2.6.2 Lesson Plan Procedure Page ........................................................................................ 23 2.6.3 Language Analysis – Vocabulary .................................................................................. 25 2.6.4 Language Analysis – Grammar .................................................................................... 29 2.6.5 Language Analysis – Functions .................................................................................... 35
2.7 Observation Tasks .............................................................................................................. 37 Day One: Observation of tutor ............................................................................................. 38 Classroom Management ...................................................................................................... 39 Instructions and setting up activities ................................................................................... 40 Vocabulary Lesson(s) ............................................................................................................ 41 Receptive Skills lesson(s) ...................................................................................................... 42 Things you’d like to steal / lend ........................................................................................... 43 Focus on the Learner Assignment ........................................................................................ 44 “Being” a student ................................................................................................................. 45 Student involvement ............................................................................................................ 46 Grammar/Functions Lesson(s) ............................................................................................. 48 Level Changeover ................................................................................................................. 49 Action Points ........................................................................................................................ 50 Staging and Aims .................................................................................................................. 51 Error Correction ................................................................................................................... 52 Materials and Resources. ..................................................................................................... 53 Questions for the teacher .................................................................................................... 54 Using the Board .................................................................................................................... 55 Trainee Progress ................................................................................................................... 56 Good cop bad cop ................................................................................................................ 57 External Observation of Experienced Teacher ..................................................................... 59
2.8 Self-‐Reflection Sheets ........................................................................................................ 61 3. Assignments ............................................................................................................................. 79 3.1 Language Skills Related Task .............................................................................................. 81 3.2 Focus on the Learner .......................................................................................................... 85 3.3 Language Related Task ....................................................................................................... 97 3.4 Lessons from the Classroom ............................................................................................ 107
4. The Final Result ...................................................................................................................... 112 5. Glossary of ESL Terms ............................................................................................................ 113 6. CELTA-‐Specific Glossary .......................................................................................................... 122
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On the Other Side of the Door
On the other side of the door I can be a different me,
As smart and as brave and as funny or strong As a person could want to be.
There’s nothing too hard for me to do, There’s no place I can’t explore Because everything can happen On the other side of the door.
On the other side of the door
I don’t have to go alone. If you come, too, we can sail tall ships And fly where the wind has flown.
And wherever we go, it is almost sure We’ll find what we’re looking for Because everything can happen On the other side of the door.
-‐-‐Jeff Moss-‐-‐
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General Information Course times The course takes place during the following hours: New York full time: Mon to Fri 9.45am-‐6pm New York part time: Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs 5.45pm-‐9.30pm and Sat 10am-‐4.30pm Boston full time: Mon to Fri 9am-‐5pm Boston part time: Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs 6-‐9.30pm and Sat 9.30am-‐4.30pm Chicago full time: Mon to Fri 9.45am-‐6pm Los Angeles full time: Mon to Fri 1pm-‐8.30pm Washington DC: Mon to Fri 9am-‐5pm All other centers: Please consult the course schedule. You are expected to attend 100% of the course. Course Staff
• Tutors: See TP schedule • Teaching House Director: David Charnaud • Boston Center Director: Dan Schulstad • Director of Teacher Training: Lizzy Adams • Assistant Director of Teacher Training: Robert Palisin • Chicago Local Center Manager: Heather Hotaling • Los Angeles Local Center Coordinator– Mary Whisenhunt • Washington DC Local Center Manager – Christina Kaku • Enrollment Officer: Patrizia Molinari • An external assessor representing Cambridge English Language Assessments will assess the
course.
Contact Information • Teaching House Head Office (New York): (212) 732-‐0277 Mon-‐Fri 8:30 am-‐9:30 pm Sat
10am-‐4.30pm • Atlanta: (404) 382-‐0473 • Boston: (617) 963-‐0215 • Chicago: (312) 419-‐1742 • Los Angeles: (310) 803-‐9348 • Philadelphia: (215) 687-‐4323 • Washington DC: (202) 580-‐8345
• All other Teaching House centers, please contact Teaching House Head Office.
Rooms • Input sessions take place in your base / input room. • TP takes place in different rooms. Please be sure to check everything you’ll need (board
markers, erasers, clocks, CD players etc.) is in the classroom in advance of the lesson. • If you remove chairs or open windows, please make sure you return them / close them after the
class. • If you require a projector or a laptop, ask your trainer to sign this out for you. • Security: Keep your valuables with you at all times.
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School opening and closing times • New York: 8am – 9.30pm Monday-‐Friday and from 9.45am – 4.30pm on Saturdays. • Boston: 8.30am-‐5pm Monday-‐ Friday. During part-‐time courses, 8.30am-‐6.30pm Monday-‐
Thursday; 8.30am-‐5pm on Friday and • Chicago: 9am – 6pm Monday-‐ Friday • Washington DC: 8.30am-‐5pm • All other centers – the school is only open during course times
Equipment • Whiteboards or chalk boards • CD players are available in each classroom • Projectors and laptops can be signed out for your lessons. You are responsible for returning
these after use. • Wireless internet is available in all centers (except Philadelphia). Please ask for the password.
Stationery The following are available for use. If you need additional supplies, please ask your tutors or reception staff (where applicable).
-‐White board markers and chalk -‐Glue -‐Board erasers -‐White-‐out -‐Scissors -‐Hole punch -‐Paper cutter -‐Staplers -‐Paper clips -‐Colored paper and card stock
Photocopiers
• We have a photocopier for your access. It is under high demand, so don’t wait until 5 minutes before your lesson to make copies. Also, please be sensitive to teachers whose copying needs are more urgent than your own.
• Photocopies from published materials must be fully acknowledged and included on each copy for students like this:
• authors, year, coursebook name, publisher, page number
Books and Materials • The cupboards/shelves in the preparation area have the recommended books for the course,
reference books and practice activity books. These can be copied from but should not leave the premises.
• We provide you with coursebooks to teach from. You will have to photocopy (and reference) the material for your students. You will sign out and in each course book and you must return all materials at the end of the course. You are responsible for the book that you are assigned (teacher A for coursebook A etc.) and will be charged a fee for lost or damaged book.
Bad weather policy
1. For New York City, Boston, Washington DC and Chicago -‐ if the public transport system is open then Teaching House is open.
2. For all other cities, your tutor will explain the emergency procedure on the first day of your course.
3. If there's any doubt, we will post messages by 7.30am on the following page: https://www.facebook.com/TeachingHouse
4. Candidates can of course email us on [email protected]
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Teaching House New York Teaching House is accredited solely by Cambridge English and the New York State Board of Education. Though Teaching House shares a physical space in New York with International House New York, they are separate organizations. Teaching House is not a part of International House New York (IHNY) or the International House World Organization (IHWO) and is not accredited or overseen by either of these bodies or by any other organization or accrediting body that oversees and/or accredits IHNY and IHWO.
Internal complaints procedure: If you have a problem on the course, this can usually be resolved by talking to your teacher trainer. We are very experienced in dealing with a wide range of concerns and it is important that you express any issues before they start to affect your performance on the course. Your second course tutor is also available if you need to talk to someone who is not directly involved with your teaching practice at that stage of the course. If you feel you need to take your problem to a different person, you can arrange a time to talk to the Center Director, Director of Teacher Training or the Assistant Director of Teacher Training (see page 5 of your Teaching House Handbook). They will listen to your problem and take appropriate action to try to address it. Teaching House will make every effort to deal with your problem promptly, with respect and impartiality. If your problem remains unresolved having followed these steps, you may make an appointment to discuss your concerns with your center director and after that, the Director of Teaching House. Each stage of this process will be documented in order to ensure transparency and fair treatment. If you are not satisfied with the result of this process, you may appeal to Cambridge English Language Assessment, the Accrediting body of the CELTA course. Details of this process can be found in your CELTA 5 (the blue booklet which is kept at the front of your CELTA portfolio). Appeals must be received no later than two weeks after the issue of results and must be submitted via Teaching House. There is a fee for this process. Inquiries should be made to the Director of Teacher Training.
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1. Record Keeping and Filing You are responsible for two items:
1. Personal Binder Keep all of your own notes and handouts from input sessions in this. It is your private binder and will not be assessed by the tutors or Cambridge. Organize it as you see fit and in a way that you can easily access the information you need. You will get a LOT of handouts from us.
2. Portfolio
You must keep everything in this binder that will form your official assessment by the tutors and the external assessor. At the end of the course, the portfolio will either be handed in and kept by the center for six months or sent to Cambridge in the UK (Cambridge regulations). If you want to keep anything, you’ll have to make copies. Keep the following in the portfolio:
• Your blue CELTA 5 course record booklet • Your lesson plans, your tutor’s written feedback, materials and self-‐evaluation
(all 4 in one plastic sleeve) • Your 4 marked written assignments with tutor feedback sheets • NB: This portfolio cannot leave the school.
3. The CELTA 5
This blue booklet is a legal document and serves as your official record of participation on the course. You must record in it:
• Any absences you have during the course (should be none!)
Total course hours = 120 • Observations of experienced teachers (live and DVD observations) • Your assessed teaching practice -‐ requires tutor signature • Written assignments • Progress reports and tutorials
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2. Teaching Practice
2.1 Teaching Practice Points For the first stage of the course, your tutors will be providing you with the aims for your teaching practice together with an outline (either verbal or written) of how to go about it. These are called teaching practice (TP) points. You will gradually become more self-‐reliant as the course progresses and your ability develops. We aim for you to be reasonably independent by the end of the course, but since you are all individuals, you will do this at your own speed. Please bear in mind that it’s not constructive to compare yourself to your peers in terms of independence with lesson planning. In some cases you may be following on from another trainee’s lesson, so you will need to liaise very carefully at the planning stage and remember that teamwork is an essential part of the CELTA. However, sometimes your lessons will be discrete. Please remember to tell your peers this so there is no confusion. You will be making your own teaching schedule for the final stage of the course. Your tutors will give you help with this when the time comes. TP points are intended as guidelines. While we want you to innovate and be creative, always discuss any different ideas you have with your trainer to check that you are on the correct path to pass CELTA, as we are assessing you according to Cambridge English Language Assessment criteria. It is important that everyone has experience of teaching different kinds of lesson over the four weeks of the course. For this reason, your TP points are organized like this:
TP 2 and 3 – Receptive skills (Reading / Listening) and Vocabulary TP 4 and 5 – Receptive skills (Reading/Listening) and Grammar TP 6 and 7 – Productive skills (Speaking/Writing) and Functions/ Grammar
Coursebook references are given to help you with ideas. Often these need to be adapted to suit your students: for example, talking about Brighton, Bondi or Brooklyn might not be relevant to them. You should adapt the coursebook material as necessary. Of course, you may ultimately decide to reject the coursebook material completely. As the course progresses and you gain confidence, we will encourage you to adapt the ideas in the coursebook and even design your own materials and tasks. However, you will not be required to do this and it is fine if you decide to use materials and tasks straight from the coursebook or a supplementary book as long as they meet the needs and interests of the students. It is essential that you plan your lesson and have questions ready for your tutor a day or more early. This means that you will have the evening of that day to take into account the tutor’s suggestions on your lesson and make any changes. If you don’t come prepared the day before you teach, then you are making it difficult for your tutor to help you since s/he has to weigh up being constructive in aiding you against undermining your confidence. Help yourself by allowing your trainer to help you. Therefore, plan ahead and be super-‐organized!
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Watch the time! If you run over, you create problems for the other trainees in your TP group. Also, the students will get tired and lose interest if lessons go on past the time allotted for them. Your lesson is actually assessed on the allotted time; time taken after this will count against you rather than for you. If you notice that you are running out of time at any stage of the lesson and won’t get through all of your plan, you will need to make a teaching decision about what to shorten or cut. At the end of the lesson avoid overrunning to get an activity finished, as it won’t actually get you a higher grade for your lesson. Plan what you will do in case you don’t have time for everything and what you will do if you have extra time on your lesson plan front page in the “anticipated problems” section. It is normal to feel nervous when teaching in front of others. It will help a great deal if you put the students first and consider how best you can deal with their feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, lack of comprehension, etc. (i.e. what you may be feeling!). This will also help to develop your sensitivity towards students, which is one mark of a good teacher.
2.2 When you are not teaching – ‘TP Etiquette’ Teaching practice (TP) is a large component of the CELTA course and provides you with the experience of being a teacher in the classroom. By the time the course finishes, if you’ve used this experience wisely, you’ll feel comfortable being in a class, around students and teaching English. During TP, you’ll spend some time teaching but the majority of the time you’ll be observing: observing the teacher, observing the students, observing materials in use and observing good (and bad!) use of the board. These observations then form the basis for discussions during feedback. To help you make the most of your time observing classes and to ensure that you don’t disrupt the teachers and/or students during a lesson, we’ve put together the following list. If anything on this list is unclear – ask your tutor for clarification!
1. When you are not teaching, your task is to complete that day’s TP observation task and to take notes on your fellow trainees’ teaching. You will need this information to get the most out of TP and to contribute to feedback after.
2. TP is not the time for future lesson preparation, other unrelated work or sleeping. 3. Leaving to use the restroom is fine but nothing else. Making calls, photocopying, buying
drinks, etc. needs to be done before or after (but not during) TP. 4. If you need to enter a classroom when a class is underway, it is courteous to stand by
the door quietly until the lesson has reached a convenient point to get the teacher’s attention i.e. the students are doing a speaking activity or they are getting up to change seats. It is then OK to quietly ask the teacher if you may enter the room—though the teacher may decline if it is not appropriate.
5. During listening activities try your hardest not to make any noise—this goes for the teacher as well as the trainees. Do not flip through any binders or books, go to the restroom, or talk to your fellow trainees.
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6. Talking with other trainees is fine if it does not disrupt the class. Thus, if the Ss are engaged in a speaking activity then talking with other trainees is acceptable. When Ss are silent and the teacher is talking you should also be silent.
7. Drinking and eating are fine outside of class hours. Of course you may drink water at any time but snacks, coffee, meals etc. should be consumed outside of class time.
8. Avoid talking to the learners while others are teaching. You are there to observe. If there’s a problem with the Ss then the teacher should sort it out. This is part of teaching.
9. Do not correct your fellow trainees while they are teaching. Your only job is to observe. Do not talk to your trainer either. They are probably busy.
10. Don’t use your cell phone or computer for any reason in class.
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2.3 Teaching Practice Feedback After TP, there is feedback on the lessons that were taught that day. • Those who taught fill in Self-‐Reflection sheets (See section 2.8) about their own lessons. The
ability to reflect on and evaluate your own teaching is an essential requirement of the course. Importance will be given to the clarity of your critical evaluation of what happened in the class, i.e. what went well, what went not so well, why, and how you might do things differently a second time. Asking questions on this document is fine, as long as you suggest some possible solutions.
• All the day’s lessons are discussed in a group setting. You will be expected to evaluate and make constructive comments on your own and your colleagues' teaching.
• Those who taught are also given the written comments of the tutor who observed the lesson.
While feedback aims to be constructive and supportive, it will sometimes be necessary for the tutor to be explicit about the areas that you need to work on. As this is a course in which you have to put into practice what you learn in order to make progress, it requires you to be able to apply the information that you get in feedback to subsequent lessons. It is therefore very important that you be open to feedback, flexible in your approach and not defensive. Each lesson shouldn’t be viewed as an exam of what you’ve learned so far but a chance for us to tell you how you can do things better next time. As well as reminding yourself of this, it is important to keep your sense of perspective. Occasionally people manage to convince themselves that the tutor’s comments have concentrated more on their weaknesses than their strengths. The tutor may indeed have said and written more about your lesson’s weak points because it is helpful to explain why there was a problem and how it could be rectified whereas recognition for something that went well may only require a few words. However, you should not feel that just because it is briefer, the praise carries less weight. Actually it carries more! Because the course is short and development time limited, the course tutor may on-‐occasion have to tell you in so many words that a lesson was not a pass standard for this stage of the course and why. Some people find this rather brutal. Please bear in mind that the alternative would be to focus exclusively on positive comments and then at the end of the course announce out of the blue, "Nice try -‐ but, actually, you failed"! The tutors have to tell you if things have not gone right, and why, so that you know where you are in your progress and can see what you need to do in order to get to where you need to be. Please try to remember that the course tutors are on your side and genuinely want you to pass the course! If you feel upset or aggrieved in any way, talk to the tutors. Never leave feeling upset. We want to talk to you and help you.
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In general, you will also find the course more rewarding if you both avoid adopting a competitive “grade-‐focused” attitude and have realistic expectations of yourself. If you have never taught before, there is no point in comparing yourself unfavorably with someone who has, for example. Nor will your tutors be doing this! If you are an experienced teacher, then focus on the areas in which you want to develop. This change will be a challenge for you. Rise to this challenge and forget negative feelings. Everyone is aware that you have already been teaching for a while, so do not let this fact impair your learning experience. Let it add to it and show us you can develop further. In other words, don't get stuck in the mud. If one of your lessons doesn’t go so well or it is below standard, then it is very important to see this in the context of the four weeks and not brood over this one lesson. If you are worried, talk to your tutor. Below standard lessons are part of the learning experience. Learn from them and improve. You have made a mistake but take it as a positive learning experience. We all get it wrong sometimes. Finally, use every lesson as a learning experience. Take notes everyday about the areas your tutor expects you to improve on and act on this the next day. Outline these points in the “personal aims” section of your next lesson plan’s cover page. If you do not know how to incorporate these ideas, ask your peers and talk to your tutor. You must understand what is expected of you to develop. Do not be shy!
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2.4 Teaching Practice: The Focus of Feedback
Stage One: TP 1 and 2
• Rapport • Management (instructions, grouping students, eliciting, feedback) • Awareness of self and students • Use of whiteboard • Graded language
Stage Two: TP 3, 4, 5
• Completion of sufficient language analysis • Student-‐centered activities • Provision of language practice • Concept checking • Contextualization of language • (Continual focus on Stage 1 aspects)
Stage Three: TP 6 and 7
• Achievement of lesson aims • Awareness of errors and correction (language and phonology) • Balance and variety of activities • Student-‐centered correction • Monitoring and dealing with errors • Selection of language items based on students’ needs • (Continued focus on aspects of Stages 1 & 2)
Stage Four: TP 8 and 9
• Planning and preparing independently • Select suitable presentation method • Pacing and timing • (Including aspects of Stages 1,2, and 3)
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2.5 The Phonemic Chart Here is the phonemic chart that we use at Teaching House and that you will be using on the CELTA. It is helpful as it encourages learner independence (they can look up the pronunciation of a word in the dictionary), helps visual learners with their pronunciation and helps teachers provide a written prompt for learners when they review their notes from class.
This chart was designed by Adrian Underhill, based on sounds from the International Phonetic Alphabet. The IPA contains symbols to describe pretty much every sound in every language in the world. Underhill selected those sounds that are used in English and organized them into this chart. This one is based on American English and is the one that your tutors will use.
The chart below is based on English from the UK and recently has been the standard in English language teaching materials. There are only a few differences and all of these are in the vowels and diphthong categories. The consonant sounds are identical as you can see. Some useful websites: An app to practice and learn the sounds: http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/pronunciation/phonemic-‐chart-‐and-‐app/ To type then copy and paste phonemes into Word: http://www.e-‐lang.co.uk/mackichan/call/pron/type.html
1 The colon symbol indicates a longer sound. This is optional in the US chart and is located next to the crisscross arrows at the top right.
US chart UK chart 40
sounds 44 sounds
Some examples of differences
US chart UK chart
flu /flu/ /flu:/1 early / ɜʳ li/ /ɜ :li:/ door /dɔr/ /dɔ :/ hot /hɑt/ /hɒt/ car /kɑ:r/ /kɑ:/ pure / pju:r/ /pjʊəә/ ear /ir/ /ɪəә/ pair /per/ /peəә/ soap /soʊp/ /səәʊp/
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2.6 Lesson plans There are various documents associated with planning a lesson. You will be guided through exactly what each requires during the course so the following is just an outline of what you need to submit before the lesson. 1) A lesson plan cover page. This goes on the top of your plan and helps distinguish your main aims for the students for that lesson as well as helping you consider which aspects of your teaching you will be working on, the materials you’ll use, what the board will look like and how you’ll engage your students with the lesson. It also contains a section called “anticipated problems and solutions with skills and classroom management”. This is where you should note down any potential problems there might be in areas such as instructions, seating, timing etc. and what you’ll do if they arise. It’s also where you can note down any elements of skills work they might find difficult e.g. the length of a text, cultural issues associated with the topics, etc. 2) A lesson plan procedure page. This is an account of the various stages of a lesson in order and what will be happening in the classroom at any one point. For each stage you need to specify what you and the students will be doing and how you’ll set this up (procedure), and outline why (aims). There are also columns for you to anticipate how long each stage will take (timing), specify who will be working with whom at each stage (interaction), and a column for the tutor’s comments. 3) A language analysis sheet. If you’re teaching a grammar or vocabulary lesson, you’ll need to research that area of language thoroughly so that you can convey and check the meaning, form and pronunciation of that language successfully and so that you can answer any questions students may have. If you’re teaching a receptive skills lesson you will also need to consider what how you will convey the meaning, form and pronunciation of any tricky items of vocabulary that occur in the text. Below are examples of a grammar analysis sheet and a vocabulary analysis sheet for your reference. All documents can be accessed online by logging into www.myteachinghouse.com The details are emailed to candidates prior to the course start date.
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2.6.1 Lesson Plan Front Page
LESSON PLAN Name:
Date:
Week:
Lesson number:
Lesson type:
Level: Length of lesson: Number of students:
Lesson Aim(s) Specify your main aims and sub-‐aims, including any target language you aim to clarify By the end of the lesson, students will (have learned/reviewed/practiced/developed…) In the following context:
Tutor: Appropriate lesson aims? (please circle)
YES NO
Materials (What you will need in this lesson) Write title, author, year, publisher and page number here and on all your copies/handouts.
Tutor: Sources acknowledged? (please circle)
YES NO Language Analysis: I have completed a) a language analysis sheet (grammar) (please check b) a language analysis sheet (vocabulary) all that apply) c) a language analysis sheet (functions)
Tutor: Sufficient language analysis? (please circle)
YES NO
Trainer’s comments: Points to work on (action points): Comments on the lesson plan and language analysis This lesson was BELOW AT ABOVE STANDARD for this stage of the course Tutor _____________________________ Signature ________________________
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Assumptions What do you expect the students will already know about your target language/content of your lesson? Anticipated problems (skills and classroom management – NOT language. E.g. problems with timing, grouping, instructions, topics, logistics, etc.)
•
•
•
Solutions to these problems:
•
•
•
Personal Aims -‐ What action points from your previous lesson(s) are you working on?
•
•
•
Where are these on your lesson plan? What is your strategy to improve in these areas?
•
•
•
Board Plan: At each stage of the lesson the board will look like this:
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Advice for Writing your Lesson Plan Name:
Date:
Week:
Lesson number:
Lesson type:
Level: Length of lesson: Number of students:
Lesson Aim(s) Specify your main aims and sub-‐aims, including any target language you aim to clarify be able to… have reviewed/clarified and practiced… have developed… etc. Specify your main aim and any sub-aims FOR STUDENTS – i.e. how their language ability will be improved. In the following context: Specify the topic of the lesson (the “real life” topic, e.g. “money”, “crime”, “the environment”(not the target language or skill)
Tutor: Appropriate lesson aims? (please circle)
YES NO
Materials (What you will need in this lesson) Write title, author, year, publisher and page number here and on all your copies/handouts.
Reference your materials here as well as on your handouts. You could list other materials you’ll need to remind yourself.
Tutor: Sources acknowledged? (please circle)
YES NO
Language Analysis: I have completed a) a language analysis sheet (grammar) (please check b) a language analysis sheet (vocabulary) all that apply) c) a language analysis sheet (functions)
Look at the lesson type to decide which language analysis sheet you need to fill out. Usually you’ll need to analyze at least one or two vocabulary items, even in a skills lesson. If in doubt check with your tutor.
Tutor: Sufficient language analysis? (please circle)
YES NO
Trainer’s comments Sorry, you can’t write your own comments! Points to work on (action points) If you type your lesson plan, try to keep the formatting the same. Delete any blank lines in the Aims/Materials/Language Analysis boxes above to make sure there’s sufficient room for the trainer to write their comments here. The Tutor signature MUST fit on the first page. Comments on the lesson plan and language analysis This lesson was BELOW AT ABOVE STANDARD for this stage of the course And sorry, you can’t grade it yourself either! Tutor _______________________________ Signature _____________________________ (this MUST fit on the first page)
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Assumptions What do you expect the students will already know about your target language/content of your lesson? This should include what they WILL know. Anything you assume they WON’T know is an anticipated problem and should be recorded below or on your Language Analysis sheet.
Anticipated problems Anticipated problems (skills and classroom management – NOT language. E.g. problems with timing, grouping, instructions, topics, logistics, etc.) Things like:
• Timing. Is your lesson likely to run • Grouping / seating of Ss. Could they speak their
native language together? Do any personalities clash?
• Cultural issues. Could anything be sensitive or potentially offensive?
• The topic of the text. Is it interesting? Is it appropriate to the learners?
Solutions to these problems:
• Be specific about how you’ll fit your lesson into the time – what specific activities will you shorten/speed up? Be sure to leave time for your main aim!
• How will you make sure students are grouped appropriately?
• How will you deal with culturally sensitive issues? • How will you make the text more
interesting/appropriate?
Personal Aims -‐ What action points from your previous lesson(s) are you working on?
• List at least 3 suggestions that your trainer made from your previous lesson. You can copy them directly if you like. You can incorporate your own personal suggestions and those of your peers too if you like.
• For example: I need to ask focused and clear questions to check the meaning of target language (CCQs).
• Example 2: I need to make my lesson more student-centered by integrating more individual and pair/group work.
Where are these on your lesson plan?/What is your strategy to improve in these areas?
• Show evidence here that you have tried to incorporate advice from your trainer and peers into your lesson plan.
• I have planned these on my language analysis sheet and put them on my procedure to remind myself.
• I have checked my interaction column to make sure there is S and S<>S work at every stage. I have also noted in my procedure when I am going to have Ss work together.
Board Plan: At each stage of the lesson the board will look like this: Never underestimate the impact of your board work! Planning it carefully can help you fit everything on, make sure students have a visual record of everything they need to and make sure that students can refer to relevant information at appropriate times (e.g. the form of a new tense from the presentation stage as they’re doing the controlled practice). Use this box to map out where everything will go. E.g. new vocabulary, answers to exercises, visuals, visual record of form, etc.
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2.6.2 Lesson Plan Procedure Page
Traine
r’s com
men
ts
Proced
ure
Stage & aim
Interaction
Time
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Traine
r’s com
men
ts
Proced
ure
Stage & aim
Interaction
Time
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2.6.3 Language Analysis – Vocabulary Word / phrase: Rush hour Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Busy time of day when a lot of people are traveling. Trains are full of people and roads are full of cars Anticipated problems with meaning: Rush hour may be at different times in Ss’ countries.
I will convey meaning by… Pre teach using a picture of cars bumper to bumper on a busy highway with a clock showing 8am (CCQs with answers) Is 3am rush hour? (No) is 5pm rush hour in New York? (Yes) Does it take more or less time to travel in rush hour? (more)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): O o /rʌʃaƱəәr/ Anticipated problems with pronunciation: Ss may pronounce hour with a /h/ sound.
Solution(s): Highlight on board silent ‘h’, model and drill.
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): compound noun Anticipated problems with form: Ss may think “rush” is an adjective and say “the hour was very rush”.
Solution(s): Clarify that it is a compound noun and record part of speech on the board. rush hour (n) OR (n+ n= compound noun) if necessary
Word / phrase: pick someone up Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): to meet someone at point A (in this context, at the airport) to B (home in this context), usually in their car. Anticipated problems with meaning: Ss may confuse it with the literal meaning (pick up a pen)
I will convey meaning by… Elicit through description of a context “if I arrive at JFK and my friend meets me there and drives me home they… (from the airport)?” (pick me up) Solution(s): (CCQs with answers) If someone picks me up, do they meet me somewhere? (yes) do we stay there or go somewhere else? (go somewhere else) how do we usually travel? (By car – could be on foot/motorbike)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): o O /pıkʌp / Anticipated problems with pronunciation: S may stress the content word “pick”, which seems logical
Solution(s): Drill and highlight on the board with stress bubbles.
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): separable phrasal verb. Anticipated problems with form: Ss may try to put the object pronoun after the particle ‘up’. (he picked up me).
Solution(s): Ask questions to guide them. E.g. Can I say “I pick up my friend” (yes). How about “I picked my friend up”? (yes) how about “I picked up her”? (No) so the object pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
Word / phrase: scratch Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): to try to relieve an itch usually using fingernails. Anticipated problems with meaning: Ss may confuse scratch with itch
I will convey meaning by… I’ll gesture scratching my arm and asking “what am I doing?”. Solution(s): (CCQs with answers) Is it a good idea to scratch a mosquito bite? (no) Do people scratch mosquito bites? (yes)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): /skræʧ/ Anticipated problems with pronunciation: consonant cluster /skr/ is likely to be difficult
Solution(s): Model, drill and highlight mouth shape. Isolate sound then build back up to the full word.
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): (transitive) verb Anticipated problems with form: Ss may use it without an object “I scratched”.
Solution(s): Record it on the board in a full chunk “She scratched her leg” and highlight scratch + object.
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Word / phrase: I can’t stand it Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): I hate it Anticipated problems with meaning: Ss may think “I can stand it” =I like it.
I will convey meaning by… on a cline. I’ll put ‘I like it’ on the right, point to the left and elicit “I don’t like it / I hate it” then add an X even further to the left. Solution(s): (CCQs with answers) Ask “Can I say “I can stand it” when I like something? No. Is it stronger or weaker than I don’t like it? (Stronger)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): o O /kæn?stænd/ Anticipated problems with pronunciation: the ‘t’ disappears
Solution(s): Drill and highlight the disappearing ‘t’ on the board by crossing it out in red.
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): verb phrase Anticipated problems with form: modal verbs don’t operate like normal verbs so Ss may say “Do you can’t stand it?” or “I don’t can stand it”.
Solution(s): Remind Ss of the form of modal verbs: Subj + can’t + base form of verb
Word / phrase: stuck Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Not able to move Anticipated problems with meaning: Ss may have heard the word in other contexts (e.g. stuck on an academic matter). Ss may try to use it as a verb as in “I’m sticking in traffic” – highlight part of speech on board
I will convey meaning by… Picture of cars bumper to bumper. Acting out driving and not being able to move CCQs with answers If it comes up then tell them it’s similar in that it means you can’t go forward. If I’m stuck, can I move? (No), can I answer the question? (No)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): /stʌk/ Anticipated problems with pronunciation: confusion between stuck /stʌk/ and stack /stæk/
Solution(s): Model, drill and highlight /ʌ/ sound
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): adjective and verb (past simple / participle of stick) Collocations “get stuck”, “be stuck” Anticipated problems with form: Ss may think that it’s a verb – the past of stick – which it is but in this case it’s an adjective
Solution(s): Ask Ss “What’s the verb form of stuck?” (Stick) and what’s the past participle? (Stuck) then write both parts of speech on the board Stuck (verb- past) (adj)
Word / phrase: traffic jam Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): a line of cars which is not moving because of an accident, road works etc. Anticipated problems with meaning: Ss may think cars in a car park are in a traffic jam
I will convey meaning by… showing a picture of cars bumper to bumper CCQs with answers Are there traffic jams on the roads in New York at 8.30am? (Yes) Are cars moving fast when there’s a traffic jam? (No) are they moving slowly? (Yes, but possibly not moving at all)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): O o o /træfıkʤæm/ Anticipated problems with pronunciation: Ss may stress “jam”
Solution(s): Model and drill. Clap the stress and record it on the board for visual learners.
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): compound noun. Traffic is uncountable and jam is countable Anticipated problems with form: Ss may make it plural by adding –s to traffic. Traffics jam
Solution(s): Write an example sentence on the board “there are always traffic jams at 5pm”
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Language Analysis Sheet – Vocabulary Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
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Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Word / phrase: Teaching Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… CCQs with answers:
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity): Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
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2.6.4 Language Analysis – Grammar Name……………….…… Date………………..……….. Lesson #........……...
Complete this sheet for all grammar lessons that you teach.
Language area and use: What is the grammatical structure you intend to teach and how is it/are they used? For example; modals of deduction, present continuous for future use Have something done (also called “causative have”)
Target language: provide example sentences to illustrate each structure (from the material you will use in the class) I’m going to have my house redecorated
I’m having my door repaired Focus on meaning: What does the target language mean? What is it used for (e.g. to describe a past habit)? How will you CONVEY AND CHECK the meaning of the target language and its uses? (Please include all concept questions and draw any timelines etc. that you intend to use). Make sure your target language is conveyed through a specific context. This structure means that someone else does something for you. You do not do it yourself. I’ll convey meaning through the 2 cartoons from the coursebook, one of a woman with paint brushes ready to decorate and one of a person pointing to the yellow pages, obviously looking for professionals to redecorate her house. I’ll have Ss match the speech bubbles (“I’m going to redecorate my house” and “I’m going to have my house redecorated”) to the correct cartoon. To check meaning I’ll ask “in the first cartoon, is the woman going to do the work?” (YES) “in the second cartoon, is the woman going to do the work? (NO) “who is going to do the work? (maybe a painting and decorating company). “will she pay?” (YES –probably)
Potential problems and solutions: Meaning P1: Ss may think the action is done by the subject S1: clarify using CCQs (did (the subject) do the action?” NO P2: Ss may confuse “have” with its lexical meaning of “to possess” (a state) S2: if this problem arises ask “is this an action or a state? Action. P3: Ss may think that because we use the past participle this structure always refers to the past. S3: Refer Ss to the model of the form and the example “I’m going to have my house redecorated” (on their handout) and use the following CCQs “does this refer to the past, present or future? (Future). after the object what is the verb form? (Past participle). Does this mean it’s connected with the past? (NO) so what changes the tense, the past participle or the tense of have? (the tense of have)”
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Focus on pronunciation: Include any relevant word/sentence stress, contractions, intonation, weak forms, etc. with phonemic transcript of key words. o O o /hævmaihausri:dekƏӘreItId/ = have my house redecorated. The main stress falls on the object (in this case ‘house’. Have is usually the subsidiary stress.
Potential problems and solutions: Pronunciation P1: Ss may have been told not to stress “have” when it’s used as an auxiliary verb. In this structure ‘have’ is stressed. S1: Highlight the sentence stress over the example sentence on the board. Model correct pron and use choral and individual drilling. P2: Pronunciation of regular past participles (ending with –ed) as /ed/ when they should be /t/ (for verbs ending in unvoiced sounds) /d/ (for verbs ending in voiced sounds) and /Id/ (for verbs ending in /t/ or /d/) S2: highlight /t/, /d/ or /Id/ sound on the board, model and drill.
Focus on form: What is the breakdown of the form—as it will appear on WB/Handout? Include all key elements. Subj + have + object + past participle e.g. had (past simple) be going to have etc.
Potential problems and solutions: Form P1: Ss may struggle to remember some irregular past participles. P2: Ss may invert the object and verb (I had painted my house) S1&2: Monitor during spoken and written practice and conduct delayed correction, eliciting the correct form from Ss. If the error is made whole class, correct on the spot (as it is the TL) First I’ll indicate there’s an error (facial expression, repeating error, using fingers etc.), encourage S to self correct, other Ss to peer correct or provide correction P3: Ss may have come across the contracted form of have when it’s used as an auxiliary verb (I’ve, he’s etc.) and may over generalize and think you can use it here. (E.g. I’ve my house painted) S3: During the presentation stage I’ll ask “Is have an auxiliary or is it the main verb? (Main verb) Can we say “I’ve my hair cut every month”? No
Introducing Language: Which way of introducing language will you use? Text based presentation, guided discovery
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Advice for Completing your Grammar Analysis Name…………………………….…… Date………………..……….. Lesson #........……...
Complete this sheet for all grammar lessons that you teach.
Language area and use: What is the grammatical structure you intend to teach and how is it/are they used? For example; modals of deduction, present continuous for future use The book often gives you the name of the structure. Use the grammar reference at the back of the book/ Swan to distinguish its use Target language: provide example sentences to illustrate each structure (from the material you will use in the class) Give one example for each structure that you’re teaching. Use the ones from your lesson. Don’t make up random examples plucked from obscurity!
Focus on meaning: What does the target language mean? What is it used for (e.g. to describe a past habit)? How will you CONVEY AND CHECK the meaning of the target language and its uses? (Please include all concept questions and draw any timelines etc. that you intend to use). Make sure your target language is conveyed through a specific context.
• Make sure you describe what the structure means. • You MUST include CCQs. You MUST draw timelines if it relates to time. • Is the structure presented in context in the book? If so, it’s often easier and more effective to use this
context than invent your own. If it’s a text based presentation, consider how you’ll raise interest in the TOPIC (not the language itself).
• Include aspects of appropriacy/formality if relevant.
Potential problems and solutions: Meaning If you don’t have teaching experience you’re going to have to use your logic/common sense/empathy with students.
• Which elements of meaning could logically cause problems? • Could the structure’s meaning be ambiguous depending on the situation? • Are there any similar structures with a different meaning that could confuse students? • How can you integrate solutions to these problems into your lesson? For each problem, specify how.
Some you may want to address proactively, some you may only address if they arise.
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Focus on pronunciation: Include any relevant word/sentence stress, contractions, intonation, weak forms, etc. with phonemic transcript of key words.
• You must write the relevant parts of the structure in phonemic script. Use the chart provided by Teaching House.
• Mark which words are naturally stressed in the sentence. • Include arrows for intonation if relevant. • No need to write the entire sentence, just the relevant part. E.g with the above future perfect
example, I’d transcribe “I will have gone” - /aɪwɪləvgɑn/ NOT “I will have gone to Rio de Janeiro by the time he calls me”.
• Think about how you say it in natural, connected speech NOT word by word. In this case we usually drop the /h/ and ‘ve becomes a weak form: /wɪləv/ = will have (or will’ve)
Potential problems and solutions: Pronunciation
• Look at the phonemic transcription and think: does the structure sound the same way it looks? (this is English – it probably doesn’t!)
• Will students stress words which shouldn’t be stressed? (hint: weak forms are ALWAYS a problem!!)
• Do we omit any of the sounds in natural speech (elision)? • Will intonation affect the students’ meaning? (hint: if you’re teaching functional language,
intonation is one of the main issues) • How can you integrate solutions to these problems into your lesson? For each problem, specify how.`
Focus on form: What is the breakdown of the form—as it will appear on WB/Handout? Include all key elements.
• What are the parts of the structure itself? What about negative and question forms? • What is the form of the surrounding language? • Are there alternative ways to structure the sentence? (E.g. contractions?) • If the part of the structure never changes, write the word itself. If it changes then use the
grammatical terminology. E.g. Future perfect: I will have gone. I -(use terminology because it changes) (subject) Will -(use word itself because it’s always ‘will’) (will) Have -(use word itself because it’s always have) (have) Gone – (Use terminology because it changes) (past participle) Subj + will + have + past participle
Potential problems and solutions: Form
• Are there any parts of the structure that students may omit? • Are there any parts of the structure that students may replace with other similar words? • Could students add words to the structure incorrectly? • Can the structure be contracted? If so, is it obvious what the contraction stands for? • Are there any difficulties with spelling? • How can you integrate solutions to these problems into your lesson? For each problem, specify how.
Again, some you may want to address proactively, some you may only address if they arise.
Introducing Language: Which way of introducing language will you use? Text based? Test-teach-test? PPP? Guided discovery? Situational presentation? These are the only options really. Use your knowledge, Section 2.5 of this handbook and notes from input to know which it is. If in doubt, ask.
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Language Analysis Sheet – Grammar
Name………………….…… Date………………..……….. Lesson #........……... Complete this sheet for all grammar lessons that you teach.
Language area and use: What is the grammatical structure you intend to teach and how is it/are they used? For example; modals of deduction, present continuous for future use Target language: provide example sentences to illustrate each structure (from the material you will use in the class)
Focus on meaning: What does the target language mean? What is it used for (e.g. to describe a past habit)? How will you CONVEY AND CHECK the meaning of the target language and its uses? (Please include all concept questions and draw any timelines etc. that you intend to use). Make sure your target language is conveyed through a specific context.
Potential problems and solutions: Meaning
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Focus on pronunciation: Include any relevant word/sentence stress, contractions, intonation, weak forms, etc. with phonemic transcript of key words.
Potential problems and solutions: Pronunciation
Focus on form: What is the breakdown of the form—as it will appear on WB/Handout? Include all key elements.
Potential problems and solutions: Form
Introducing Language: Which way of introducing language will you use?
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2.6.5 Language Analysis – Functions Complete this sheet for all functional language lessons that you teach.
Name
Date Lesson #
Context: Describe the context you are using to teach the functional language. Formality: Describe the relationship between the speakers / writers. Function: What will this language and therefore this lesson enable learners to do, or do better?
Example Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
/kʌʤəә/ O
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) Request What are your CCQs? Is this a way to ask for help? Yes Is this polite? Yes What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them? Problem (form): Ss may use full infinitive instead of base form. Solution: Highlight “base form” on the board and correct instantly.
Exponent: Could you help me with this? Form: Could + subj + base form of verb + ?
Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
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Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
Pronunciation (transcribe relevant parts in phonemes and indicate stress / intonation):
Meaning (what does it mean and what function does it perform in this context?) What are your CCQs? What problems do you anticipate with meaning, pronunciation and/or form? How will you solve them?
Exponent: Form:
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2.7 Observation Tasks One important component of the course is observation of other teachers. This is divided into two sections: observation of experienced teachers and observation of your peers. These observations are invaluable in giving you insights into new teaching ideas, classroom techniques, presence, and also an ideal way to observe the students and how they respond and work. 1) Experienced teachers. A total of six hours will be spent observing in some of the following areas:
• CELTA Tutor You will observe your tutor teach your class of students. Use this as a model to how you should set up your own classes.
• Video Observations You will see a selection of videos on teaching in different contexts and have the chance to analyze them for positive and negative aspects.
• Language School During the course you may spend time at a local language school watching a class there. This is a great way to see teaching in a different setting.
2) Peer Observations When not teaching, it is the responsibility of the candidate to observe lessons and make appropriate notes related to the given task. These observation tasks are not required to be turned in to the tutor, but should be used to help the candidate to explore and build on his or her own teaching practice. Various points from the tasks may be discussed in feedback, thus candidates should make an effort to gather as much information as possible. Make sure you know what the observation task is for that day by checking with your tutor or peers.
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Day One: Observation of tutor When observing today’s lesson, consider the points below. What is there about the classroom, the activities, the teacher and the students that helps to create conditions for effective learning?
The Classroom Makes notes on the classroom, considering seating arrangements, teaching aids, pairing/grouping of students and how these are changed during the lesson.
The Teacher Comment on the rapport between teacher and students. What is the teacher’s role at various stages of the lesson? What is the balance between teacher and student talking time? Comment on the teacher’s instructions and use of voice. How does he/she get the student’s attention?
The learners How motivated are they? Why? Are they taking part in their own learning? Is the teacher challenging them or doing most of the work him/herself? What did they learn in this lesson?
The activities Make notes of the activities used. What did students actually do? What was the balance between teacher and student involvement? How were the activities set up and brought to a close? Summary What will you take away from this lesson?
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Classroom Management Task: Watch the lesson and write ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, NOT ENOUGH, or NEVER in each box. Add notes where appropriate.
TEACHER TALK
The teacher’s language is natural and graded to the Ss’ level.
The teacher achieves a balance between teacher talking time and student talking time
The teacher uses his/her voice at an appropriate volume.
The teacher interacts naturally and develops a good rapport with the Ss’.
EXTRA NOTES
Teacher 1
Teacher 2
Teacher 3
ADDRESSING THE GROUP AS A WHOLE
The teacher gets the attention of the whole group.
The teacher’s position is appropriate (T’s eyes clearly visible to all Ss’, (s)he sits down where appropriate.)
The teacher’s instructions are clear and understood by all Ss’.
The teacher uses demonstration to set up activities.
EXTRA NOTES
Teacher 1
Teacher 2
Teacher 3
LESSON & ACTIVITIES
There is appropriate variation of interaction patterns (Ss’ in pairs, groups, individually, etc.)
Ss’ change partner/seat.
Ss’ are involved with the activities.
The teacher monitors Ss’ as they work.
Boardwork is useful and Ss’ can see all visuals.
Teacher 1
Teacher 2
Teacher 3
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Instructions and setting up activities Read the questions and make notes in the table for each activity.
1) What instructions were given? Were gestures used appropriately? 2) Were the instructions well staged? 3) Did the teacher check instructions? Was it necessary / effective? 4) At what stage did the teacher give out the materials? 5) Did the teacher make use of demonstration? How? 6) Did the Ss understand? How do you know?
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4
Activity 5
Activity 6
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Vocabulary Lesson(s) Question Notes Teacher 1 Notes Teacher 2 Think about the vocabulary that the lesson focuses on. How is it related?
• Items related in terms of meaning (e.g. fruit – orange, apple, guava)
• Items with a similar form (e.g. adjectives which end in –ful – careful, beautiful)
• Items connected by their pronunciation (e.g. words which rhyme)
• Items from a text
How well does the lesson material/ the teacher convey meaning? Is meaning checked? Is there evidence that the students understand? (This could be through questions that the teacher asks the class or through practice activities)
Does the material / the teacher pay attention to relevant aspects of form? For example, part of speech, typical collocations.
How well does the material / the teacher cover pronunciation? What techniques are used to highlight sounds? Stress?
What chances do learners get to practice the vocabulary? What types of practice are there? Controlled (where there’s only one answer) or Freer (where learners use the vocabulary more spontaneously/fluently)? Do learners get enough practice? If not, why not?
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Receptive Skills lesson(s)
Teacher 1 Comments/students’ reactions
Teacher 2 Comments/students’ reactions
Lead-‐in: Motivating? Relevant? S-‐centered?
Text: Reading: text type? Audience? Listening: purpose? Relationship between speakers? Context made explicit to learners?
First task Sub-‐skill? Set up appropriately? Appropriate time allowed?
Feedback: Chance to check in pairs/groups? Ss given chance to justify their answers?
Second task: Sub-‐skill? Level of difficulty? Set up appropriately? Appropriate time allowed?
Feedback: Chance to check in pairs/groups? Enough time given before feedback?
Other comments?
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Things you’d like to steal / lend Note activities or techniques that you think are particularly effective and would like to use yourself. For example, one colleague might have effective lead-‐in activities, or another might be especially good at keeping students engaged during feedback stages. Note what the activity or technique is, how it’s carried out exactly and why it is effective. You may also want to ‘lend’ the teachers a technique that would help them next time they teach.
Things I’d like to steal Activity/Technique Why it’s effective
Things to lend Activity/Technique How it could be done next time.
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Focus on the Learner Assignment This observation task is to help you gather material for the ‘Focus on the Learner’ assignment. Part 1 During TP, observe one particular student engaging in different activity types e.g. following instructions, listening to audio material, during speaking practice, etc. Make notes about the following: § Does the student appear to prefer some activity types to others? Why might this be? § Which interaction patterns does the learner seem more comfortable with? Why do you
think this is? § Does the student follow directions well? What would help them better understand? § How independent is the student? How willing is (s)he to take risks with the language?
Does (s)he ask questions when (s)he isn’t sure? Part 2 What strengths does the learner have? Skills Systems What difficulties does the student have? Systems Notice grammatical errors, pronunciation errors (sounds, stress and intonation), (write down examples) Skills Difficulties with reading/listening for gist and detail, Problems with fluency/accuracy when speaking.
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“Being” a student Choose a student from your TP group (privately – don’t tell them or distract them from the lesson!) and “be” them for the afternoon. Make notes on how “you” felt at various points during the lessons. During feedback, tell the teacher how you felt in the first person (“I liked it when you used my name”. I felt confused when you asked me “why we use the present perfect”.) Lesson Moments of
clarity (light bulb moments)
Moments of confusion (???)
Moments of feeling good (happy, proud, etc.)
Moments of feeling not so good (frustrated, rushed, etc.)
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Student involvement As you watch each lesson today, draw a graph reflecting how involved the learners were in the lesson. Label any peaks / troughs and note your comments. Remember, silence does not necessarily indicate lack of involvement! Ss may be reading/thinking/processing. Example:
Story engaged Ss and pair work involved all Ss – v motivating task
Pre-‐teaching vocab was ok to begin with but there was too much – too T-‐centered. Ss switched off. *use a match up activity instead.
Reading – text is interesting. pair check involved Ss well
Answered one Ss’ question in whole class stage so most Ss tuned out / started chatting. *Answer Qs like that after the lesson or during monitoring.
Fluency at the end was super engaging! Involvement dipped a little during WCFB – *set a task so the group is more likely to pay attention.
Lesson 1
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Lesson 2
Lesson 3
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Grammar/Functions Lesson(s) Question Notes Teacher 1 Notes Teacher 2 Think about the context of the lesson. Is there just one context or many mini-‐contexts? Is/are the context(s) set clearly? Is/are the context(s) sufficiently engaging? Do(es) the context(s) help the learners understand the meaning and use of the language?
How well does the lesson material/ the teacher convey meaning? Is meaning checked? Is there evidence that the students understand? (This could be through questions that the teacher asks the class or through feedback to practice activities). To what extent is formality relevant? Is this covered by the teacher/learners?
How effectively does the material / the teacher pay attention to relevant aspects of form? Are the learners engaged and involved in this stage? How?
How well does the material / the teacher cover pronunciation? What techniques are used to highlight sounds? Rhythm and stress? Is intonation relevant? If so, how well does the teacher cover it.
What chances do learners get to practice the new language? What types of practice are there? Controlled? Freer? Do learners get enough practice? If not, why not?
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Level Changeover Watch the students and try to get to know the new class. Make notes in the following areas.
1. Write the names and test yourself.
2. What nationalities are represented?
3. Who is dominant?
4. Who is quiet?
5. Are there any weak students?
6. Who is particularly strong?
7. Who may be disruptive, if anyone?
8. What language strengths do you notice?
9. What language problems did you notice?
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Action Points Today your feedback to the other teachers will be written, not just spoken. Before the lessons today, find out each teacher’s personal aims (action points from their previous lessons), comment on evidence of progress in these areas and ways they could further improve. Be sure to write legibly and on a separate piece of paper so you can hand your comments to each teacher after the lesson. Action points Evidence of progress Suggestions for further progress.
Now take another piece of paper and repeat for the other teachers.
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Staging and Aims During the lessons today, write down the stages of the lesson and record the aims of each, adding some comments on the effectiveness of each stage in achieving its aim and thinking about how logically staged the lesson is.
Stage and aim Activity Comments
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Error Correction Complete this sheet (and additional sheets if necessary) with examples of errors and correction from each lesson that you notice. Think about how effective these decisions are.
Error of: When corrected? Who corrected? How corrected? example Pronunciation immediately same student T asked ‘How ‘comfortable’ during pairwork many syllables?’ example Grammar after the activity another student T put sentence on ‘I think you board / elicit shouldn’t go.’ example Vocabulary wasn’t corrected nobody it wasn’t (but could Next to the be useful) ‘high’ man Error When corrected? Who corrected? How corrected?
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Materials and Resources. Critically examine your peers’ materials (worksheets, etc.) and resources (use of OHP, projector, board, multi-‐media, etc.) today and make notes in the following categories: Interest / motivation
Appropriacy for the level
Tasks used to exploit the materials / resources.
Authenticity (NB. Graded material can also be “authentic” if it represents real language use)
Communicativeness (does it promote S-‐S interaction?)
What have you learned from the use of materials/resources in this lesson?
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Questions for the teacher Today as you watch Teaching Practice today, note down any situations that you noticed and what you’d like to ask the teacher during feedback. For example:
• I noticed… Ss really enjoyed your lead-‐in and I wondered …where you got the idea from.
• I noticed… that during the reading Ss were doing the wrong task and I wondered …when you noticed and if you’d handle it the same if it happened again.
Teacher Thoughts and questions 1 I noticed …
And I wondered…
I noticed… And I wondered…
I noticed … And I would like to ask you…
2 I noticed … And I wondered…
I noticed… And I wondered…
I noticed … And I would like to ask you…
3 I noticed … And I wondered…
I noticed… And I wondered…
I noticed … And I would like to ask you…
Adapted from Scrivener, J. (2005) Learning Teaching (Second Edition), Macmillan
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Using the Board Today’s task is to consider the role of the board and how the teacher exploited it. Use the following board plans to map out the teacher’s board use and make any comments around the edges.
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Trainee Progress For each colleague you observe today, note at least three ways that they have improved since TP 1. Also note at least three suggestions for their future teaching career. Try to be as specific as possible so that your colleagues have concrete ideas to take away with them. Improvements:
•
•
•
Suggestions:
•
•
•
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Good cop bad cop Your trainer will assign you a role for feedback today. If you are good cop, write down all the positive points about that lesson. If you are bad cop, write down all the negatives. In feedback you’ll deliver the good/bad news to your peers! Consider: classroom management, clarification of language (M, P and F), lesson staging, provision and quality of practice, etc. Lesson 1 – I am GOOD/BAD cop. Notes: Lesson 2 – I am GOOD/BAD cop. Notes:
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Feedback Use your artistic skills to plan how you’ll give feedback to your peers today.
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External Observation of Experienced Teacher
1. How does the teacher engage the students at each stage of the lesson?
2. Is there a balance of activities?
3. How long does each stage of the lesson last?
4. What is the balance of students’ to teacher talking time?
5. How effective are the instructions given?
6. Is there a variety of interaction patterns?
7. In what ways is the class, and the way it was run, different from the classes you've observed on the CELTA course?
8. If you observed at a language school, in what ways were the students similar and different from our students on the CELTA course?
9. What did you discover from the experience of observing an experienced teacher?
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2.8 Self-‐Reflection Sheets Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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Name: TP # _____ This document is part of the assessment criteria of the course. Please consider the following areas: Aims: What were the lesson aims?
To what extent were the lesson aims achieved? How was this demonstrated? Personal Aims: What progress did you make with your action points from your previous lesson(s)? (N/A for TP1) Planning: How did your plan (cover page, procedure page and language analysis) help you with your lesson today?
What would you change if you planned the lesson again? Strengths: What were the main strengths of your lesson? Action points: What were the main weaknesses of your lesson?
What are you going to do to avoid these weaker areas in the future? Trainer’s feedback Trainer’s Signature:
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Reflections on lessons continued:
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3. Assignments Administration
• In order to be eligible to pass the course and receive the CELTA certificate, you must:
o Pass 3 out of 4 written assignments. If you fail two (2) or more assignments, you automatically fail the course.
o Submit all 4 assignments (i.e. even if you pass the first 3, you still have to do the 4th)
o You may fail one (1) of the four assignments and still be considered for a 'B' grade, provided that you have been able to meet the criteria on which you failed in another way -‐ i.e. during your teaching practice.
• Submission:
o The submission dates are listed on the “Input Schedule” that is handed out on Day 1
o Failure to hand in assignments on time will be considered a professionalism issue and will be reflected in the comments on your final report that you will use to secure employment after completing the course
• Assignments should preferably be typed (with the exception of LRT and LFC).
• All assignments have a minimum word count of 750 and a maximum word count of 1,000. Please stick to the word count and state it explicitly at the end of your assignment.
First submission
• Pass on first submission
o If the feedback sheet has 'pass on first submission' circled, you have successfully completed the assignment and can file it in your CELTA portfolio.
o Please record the assignment result in the appropriate box on page 8 of your blue Candidate Record Booklet (CELTA 5), which is kept in your CELTA portfolio.
• Resubmit
o If your assignment does not meet the criteria, you will need to make changes or additions and resubmit it.
o You will know an assignment needs to be resubmitted if 'Resubmit' on the feedback sheet has been circled.
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o Read the tutor's comments on the feedback sheet carefully and make any necessary changes or additions on a separate sheet of paper to be attached to the original. If you resubmit the whole assignment, please mark the sections that you have changed clearly.
o Do not under any circumstances alter the original work. Do not use white-‐out, correction tape, scribbles or any other means to cover what you originally submitted.
o The Cambridge assessor needs to be able to see your original work as well as any changes or additions you make for resubmission.
Resubmissions
• You may resubmit each assignment only once.
• When you hand in a resubmission, please include the original ‘cover sheet’ where the tutor has provided feedback and recorded your grade as well as the entire original assignment.
• Grades:
o If an assignment is a 'pass on resubmission', please mark this on page 8 of your Candidate Record Booklet, again in the appropriate box.
o If the resubmission does not meet the criteria, your assignment will be a 'fail on resubmission' and your tutor with check this box on the feedback sheet.
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3.1 Language Skills Related Task Candidate name: Criteria
To stan
dard
Not to
stan
dard yet 1st Submission
To stan
dard
Not to
stan
dard 2nd Submission
Tutor feedback and resubmission guidance if necessary
Tutor feedback
Select an appropriate authentic text for the level and provide a rationale
Identify receptive skills to be practiced, using correct terminology
Submit two appropriate receptive skills tasks
Identify productive skills to be practiced, using correct terminology
Submit an appropriate productive task of your own design
Submit a sufficient outline of a lesson plan
Relate task design to language skills practice
Find, select and reference information from one or more sources
Use written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
Word count of 750-‐1000
Overall grade Tutor(s) signature(s) and date
Pass
Resubm
it
Pass
Fail
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Skills Related Task
Word limit: 750-‐1000 words
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Cambridge Assessment Criteria for SRT Assignment Candidates can demonstrate their learning by:
o Correctly using terminology that relates to skills and sub-‐skills
o Relating task design to language skills practice
o Finding, selecting and referencing information from one or more sources using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task.
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3.2 Focus on the Learner Candidate name: Criteria
To stand
ard
Not to
stand
ard
yet
1st Submission
To stand
ard
Not to
stand
ard 2nd Submission
Tutor feedback and resubmission guidance if necessary
Tutor feedback
Describe a learner’s backgrounds, motivations and learning styles
Identify one grammar problem with at least two pieces of evidence
Select one appropriate activity to address the grammar problem and provide a rationale
Identify one pronunciation problem with at least two pieces of evidence
Select one appropriate activity to address the pronunciation problem and provide a rationale
Make sure at least one of the two activities is from a published ELT source
Correctly use terminology relating to the description of language systems
Use written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
Word count of 750-‐1000 Overall grade Tutor(s) signature(s) and date
Pass
Resubm
it
Pass
Fail
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Focus on the Learner Cambridge CELTA
Word limit: 750-‐1000 words
*See next page for other requirements and helpful hints.
Gather informazon
• Choose a learner from your current TP class (each person in your TP group should choose someone different) • Observe your learner in lessons for: behavior in class, grammar problems, pronunciazon problems • Meet with your learner • Give your learner homework (there's a homeworksheet in your handbook) to write and bring back the next day
• Interview your learner or set up a zme in the near future when you can interview your learner. There's a sheet in your handbook with suggested queszons. You should either record the interview or take good notes during it.
• Exchange contact informazon with your learner -‐-‐ so just in case they can't make it to class the next day, you'll be able to get in touch with them.
• Collect the homework from your learner • Analyze what your learner said/wrote for grammar and pronunciazon errors (this will be useful for Seczon B of your assignment).
Do Seczon A of your assignment (400-‐500 words)
• Write about these areas for your learner, filling in the assignment grid below: • General background informazon (name, home country, first language, age, etc.) • General educazon and language educazon history • Mozvazon for learning English • Learning styles and what evidence you have to think these are their learning styles
Do Seczon B of your assignment (500-‐600 words)
• Write about one grammar problem your learner has (use analysis from "Gather Informazon" stage). • Using the grid below, say what the problem is. • Document two instances in which your learner showed they have this one problem and provide the correczon..
• Find one aczvity that could help your learner with this problem (include the actual aczvity handout in the appendices) and say why it is helpful for your learner in parzcular.
• Write about one pronunciazon problem your learner has (use analysis from "Gather Informazon" stage). • Say what the problem is. • Document two instances in which your learner showed they have this one problem. • Find one aczvity that could help your learner with this problem (include the actual aczvity handout in the appendices) and say why it is helpful for your learner in parzcular.
Assemble your assignment
• Put together • Cover sheet with your name on it • Wri~en parts (Seczon A & Seczon B on the grid) with a word count at the end • Bibliography • Appendices: The handouts from the aczvizes you described in the body of Seczon B with references as to where you found them
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Other requirements/hints: 1. In the input session about “learning and teaching” you went over some useful terminology to
describe learning styles. Use some of it (introvert/extrovert, visual/auditory/kinesthetic, etc.) to describe your learner and describe their motivation (i.e. intrinsic/extrinsic) in Section A.
2. There is also useful information in Learner English edited by Michael Swan and Bernard Smith (CUP). It has information about students from various native languages and describes typical issues these learners have when learning English.
3. You are required to submit two actual tasks (one to help your learner with a grammar problem and one to help with a pronunciation problem) as appendices to your assignment. You can find activities in resource books in the book cabinet in the input room. If you can’t find an activity that deals with your learner’s particular problem, you can make an activity yourself. You cannot, however, make both of the activities yourself. At least one of the activities (for grammar or pronunciation) must be from a reputable published (or reputable online) source.
4. Example problems and solutions:
a. Grammar Example “In her written text, Junko wrote “When I first arrive in New York…” and “we see a show on Broadway”. This indicates a problem with the past simple tense. An activity like “Pictures into story” in Grammar Practice Activities (Ur, 1998: p215) would focus on this grammar problem. Students receive a set of pictures, order the pictures as they like, then write the story. Junko could practice writing different forms of the past simple in a meaningful, narrative context. This would also help her attain her aim of becoming a more accurate writer in English.”
b. Pronunciation Example: “In her interview, Junko struggled to correctly produce accurate /l/ sounds. She said, for example, “I / rɑɪk / (instead of /l ɑɪk/) to shopping but I have / rɪtəәr / (instead of / lɪtəәl/ money for it.”. She needs practice both recognizing and producing accurate /l/ and /r/ sounds. A discrimination exercise in which she must listen and check the correct word from a minimal pair, e.g. light or right, would help improve her recognition, for example, Pronunciation Journey from Pronunciation Games (Hancock, 1995: p36). For production practice, Junko could read aloud sentences or tongue twisters containing /l/ sounds and a mix of /l/ and /r/ sounds, e.g. I like laughing a lot when I learn English. She will also benefit from observing the teacher produce the sound to learn the mechanics of how to physically form it.
CELTA pass criteria: candidates can demonstrate their learning by: a) showing awareness of how a learner’s/learners’ background(s), previous learning experience and
learning style(s) affect learning b) identifying the learner’s/learners’ language/skills needs c) correctly using terminology relating to the description of language systems and language skills d) selecting appropriate material and/or resources to aid the learner’s/learners’ language development e) providing a rationale for using specific activities with a learner/learners
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f) finding, selecting and referencing information from one or more sources using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
Appendix 1 (Use this as a basis for your interview) Interview the learner Name Age Nationality Job / studies Reasons for learning English / motivation Personal goals with English. Language learning background -‐ English / other languages. Student’s impression of his/her weak and strong areas. Activities they enjoy / find useful in class. Feelings about learning English / English-‐language culture Contact with English outside the classroom (including work) Time dedicated to English study out of class and what type of study
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Appendix 2 Homework assignment Dear Student, During this course, the teachers need to complete a written profile of the students in this class. The questions you’ve answered today are really useful in getting to know you. The teachers also need a sample of your written language so that we can analyze your strengths and weaknesses in writing. We’d also like to know more about you! Give as much detail as you can and please, do not use a grammar book or a dictionary. We would be very grateful if you could write a letter to your teacher answering some of the following questions:
§ What has been your best experience in the United States so far? What has been your worst experience?
§ What do you like about the USA and what do you miss from your home country?
§ What do you like doing in your free time?
Thanks a lot! The teachers at Teaching House
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Category Write here in prose: Trainer
comments (leave blank)
Learner background (age, occupation, nationality, languages, education, etc.)
Learner motivation
Learning style
Learner strengths
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Grammar problem (name of structure/language point)
Example of error (write whole sentence so context is clear)
Example: “We walking in Central Park when man stopped us. ”
Correction Example: “We were walking in Central Park when (a) man stopped us. ”
Example of error (write whole sentence so context is clear)
e.g. They broke the car as they drive to Vermont.
Correction e.g. (The car broke down) as they were driving to Vermont.
Material to help the learner with this problem (source)
Justification for choice and how it will be used
Copy of material (attach the actual photocopy or scan to this document)
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Pronunciation problem (which 1 or 2 sounds does the learner have problems with – use phonemes)
Example of error (write full utterance so context is clear – use phonemes)
e.g. “I like New York /beri/ (very) much”
Correction e.g. “I like New York /veri/ (very) much”
Example of error (write full utterance so context is clear)
e.g. “My sister want(s) to be a /bet/ (vet)”
Correction e.g. “My sister want(s) to be a /vet/ (vet)”
Material to help the learner with this problem (source)
Justification for choice and how it will be used
Copy of material (attach the actual photocopy or scan to this document)
Word count:
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3.3 Language Related Task Gr. 1 Gr. 2 Voc. 1 Voc. 2 Tutor comments 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st submission 2nd submission
Meaning ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Problems & solutions with meaning
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Pronunciation ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Problems & solutions with pronunciation
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Form ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Problems & solutions with form
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Written language
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Overall grade Pass / Resubmit
Pass / Fail
Tutor signature(s) & date(s)
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Assignment 1 Language Related Task -‐ LRT 750-‐1000 words* Task: Below is a typical text that you might have intermediate level students read in class. In a text-‐based language lesson you would clarify language items from the text so they come from a clear context. This CELTA assignment requires you to analyze language. Before analyzing the language, it’s a good idea to comprehend the text. Read it carefully before you attempt this assignment. The 'amazing' Tide detergent crime wave By The Week's Editorial Staff | Yahoo! News Thu, Mar 15, 2012 Tide laundry detergent is meant to be used for household cleaning purposes, but thieves are turning it into something dirty. Authorities are reporting a spike in thefts of Tide, and in some cities they have set up task forces where the detergent is sold to track the number of bottles in stores. Police believe thieves are using the soap on the black market, which retails for $10-$20, to buy drugs. On the black market, Tide is often referred to as "liquid gold" and can go for $5-$10 per bottle. Last year, in St. Paul, Minnesota, a man is alleged to have stolen $25,000 worth of Tide over 15 months before he was captured by authorities. Stores such as CVS have amped up security measures to prevent theft; at some locations the detergent is kept in a locked container and an employee must retrieve it for customers. So why is Tide the only detergent being targeted? Authorities list several reasons: It might be because Tide is instantly recognizable because of its Day-Glo orange bottle; or it may be because it is one of the most expensive brands of laundry detergent or because it does not have serial numbers, so it cannot be tracked. On social media, people are calling the theft trend "bizarre" and many are blaming it on the tough economy and rising gas prices. One person tweeted that the thefts could “stem from inflation”. A spokesperson for Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer of Tide, called the thefts "unfortunate”. Adapted from http://news.yahoo.com/video/trendingnow-25169353/trend-of-tide-detergent-thefts-spiking-across-the-country-28598090.html Note: When doing this assignment, you do not need to write in prose -‐ bullet points are fine, but make sure you include all the specified information. Use the following form/template for your Language Analysis, responding to all the prompts in the boxes.
Cambridge English Language Assessments specifies that for this assignment successful candidates can demonstrate their learning by:
• analyzing language correctly for teaching purposes • correctly using terminology relating to form, meaning and pronunciation when analyzing language • accessing reference materials and referencing information they have learned about language to an appropriate
source • using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
Now, look at the items underlined in the text. You must analyze the four items specified for your assignment – do not choose different ones.
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Grammar 1 Language area and use: What is the grammatical structure you intend to teach? How is it used? Target language: find 2 more examples of this language item from the text 1. he was captured by authorities 2. 3. Focus on meaning: You need to: 1) explain the meaning of this grammar structure in the context of the Tide text 2) Write how you will CONVEY AND CHECK the meaning of the target language (Please include concept questions (CCQs) with answers and draw any images etc.). Use the context of the Tide text. Make sure you analyze the grammar, not the lexical meaning of the word ‘captured’ Anticipated problems and solutions with meaning: Provide two problems and a solution for each. Remember to focus on the grammatical structure, not the meaning of the word “captured”.
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Focus on pronunciation: Include sentence stress and weak forms with phonemic transcript of “he was captured” Anticipated problems and solutions with pronunciation: (provide two problems and a solution for each). Again, make sure these are relevant to the grammar, not just the word captured. Focus on form: You need to: 1) identify elements of the structure of the target language and provide a formula that would generate multiple examples of the target language 2) repeat this for the question and negative forms (presenting it as you would to the learners) Anticipated problems and solutions with form: Provide two problems and a solution for each. You should consider word order, verb forms, potentially added or omitted parts, etc. Sources used: (e.g. Michael Swan (2005) ‘Practical English Usage’, OUP, page numbers)
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Grammar 2 Language area and use: What is the grammatical structure you intend to teach? How are they used? Target language: find 2 more examples of this language item from the text
1. It might be because… 2. 3. Focus on meaning: You need to: 1) explain the meaning of “it might be…” in the context of the Tide text 2) Write how you will CONVEY AND CHECK the meaning of the target language (Please include all concept questions (CCQs) with answers and draw any images etc. Use the context of the Tide text. Anticipated problems and solutions with meaning: Provide two problems and a solution for each. Remember to focus on the grammatical structure, not the meaning of the vocabulary used in the examples.
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Focus on pronunciation: Include sentence stress with phonemic transcript of “it might be…”
Anticipated problems and solutions with pronunciation: Provide two problems and a solution for each.
Focus on form: You need to: 1) identify elements of the structure of the target language and provide a formula that would generate multiple examples of the target language 2) repeat this for the negative and question forms, including any relevant contractions (presenting it as you would to the learners) Anticipated problems and solutions with form: Provide two problems and a solution for each. You should consider word order, verb forms, etc. Sources used: (e.g. Rosemary Aitken (2002) ‘Teaching Tenses’, Longman)
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Vocabulary 1 Word / phrase: set up
Teaching *Keep to the context of the text
Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… I will check meaning by… (CCQs with answers) Solution(s)
Pronunciation (Write ‘set up’ in phonemes and mark the stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity), etc.: Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Sources used: (e.g. http://www.macmillandictionary.com)
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Vocabulary 2 Word / phrase: a spike in thefts
Teaching *Keep to the context of the text
Meaning (Be specific but keep it simple. Look in a learner dictionary): Anticipated problems with meaning:
I will convey meaning by… I will check meaning by… (CCQs with answers) Solution(s)
Pronunciation (phonemes, stress): Anticipated problems with pronunciation:
Solution(s):
Form (Part(s) of speech, collocation, (ir)regularity), etc.: Anticipated problems with form:
Solution(s):
Sources used: (e.g. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-‐english)
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3.4 Lessons from the Classroom NAME __________________________ Criteria
To stan
dard
Not to
stan
dard yet 1st Submission
To stan
dard
Not to
stan
dard
2nd Submission
Tutor feedback and resubmission guidance if necessary
Tutor feedback
Identify at least two successful aspects of your teaching
Identify at least three areas needing improvement
Provide at least three suggestions for improvement
Provide evidence of sufficient observation and reflection on others’ classroom teaching
Provide at least three ideas for future development
Use written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
Word count of 750-‐1000
Overall grade Tutor(s) signature(s) and date Pa
ss
Resubm
itt Pa
ss
Fail
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Assignment 4 Lessons From the Classroom
Assessment Criteria for Assignment: Candidates can demonstrate their learning by: • noting their own teaching strengths and weaknesses in different situations in light of feedback from learners,
teachers and teacher educators • identifying which ELT areas of knowledge and skills they need further development in • describing in a specific way how they might develop their ELT knowledge and skills beyond the course • using written language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task Part A: Reflections on Classroom Teaching In the first two weeks of the course you are exposed to adults learning and teaching languages in three situations: your students learning from you, students learning from your peers and students learning from experienced teachers (tutors) in live and video demonstration lessons. Consider the above situations and: • Identify at least 2 successful aspects of your teaching and discuss why these were
successful. Illustrate these with specific examples of where you did it well and how this benefitted your learners.
• Identify at least 3 aspects of your teaching that you would like to improve and suggest improvements. These suggestions for improvement should come from your observations of other teachers – your colleagues, trainers, videos. Be very specific about where you saw this done well and how working on it would be beneficial for your learners.
Your answer does not need to be written in a formal style, first person is fine. Use the above points as sub-‐headings to organize your answer. Support your observations with practical examples wherever possible. State who the teachers were, what they did that was effective and why those activities / techniques were successful. Part B: Future Development • Discuss how you plan to develop your ELT knowledge and skills after the course. Provide at
least three specific ideas (e.g. arrange to watch experienced colleagues, read published matter on developing listening skills). Specify how these strategies will benefit you.
750 -‐ 1000 words. Please state your word count at the end of your assignment. *See following page for an outline that we recommend you follow.
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Lessons From the Classroom Assignment
Part A Paragraph 1: Strength #1
Identify the strength Say why it is beneficial to your students or how it helps your teaching. Give a specific example of a time when you used this and say how it benefitted the lesson.
Paragraph 2: Identify the strength Say why it is beneficial to your students or how it helps your teaching. Give a specific example of a time when you used this and say how it benefitted the lesson.
Paragraph 3: Area to work on #1 Say why it would be beneficial for your students for you to work on this. Give a specific example of a time when you saw a colleague or an experienced teacher do it well. Say what you will do to improve this in the future.
Paragraph 4: REPEAT for AREA to work on #2 Paragraph 5: REPEAT for AREA to work on #3 Part B Paragraph 6: Idea for Future development 1
Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.
Paragraph 7: Idea for Future development 2 Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher.
Paragraph 8: Idea for Future development 3 Specify what it is and how it will enable you to develop into a better teacher. There’s no need to write an introduction or a conclusion.
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3.5 Plagiarism Policy “Plagiarism” (from Latin plagiare "to kidnap") is the practice of claiming, or implying, original authorship or incorporating material from someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one’s own without adequate acknowledgment. (http://www.wikipedia.org accessed on April 22nd 2008) In terms of the CELTA course, this would be
• Copying someone else´s assignment (in whole or in part). • Getting another person to write an assignment for you. • Lifting ideas from published source without referencing it (this is especially
important in the Language Skills Related Task assignment) • Copying parts of published material without adequately referencing the source.
Of course you can, and are encouraged to, refer to sources of background reading. Here are some ways and conventions for referencing: Paraphrasing what the writer has said. As Scrivener says, encouraging students to read quickly when reading for the first time can help build confidence when they don´t understand every word (Scrivener, p 153) Direct quotation from the book (don´t overdo this. Keep the quotation short) According to Scrivener “it´s actually not necessary to understand every word in order to understand the information you might need from a recording” (Scrivener, p 147) Footnotes – quote directly or paraphrase, then footnote author / year / page number at bottom of page2 And…remember to include a bibliography of any books /resources you´ve quoted or consulted when writing an assignment. This should be written like this: Author surname, Author first name, year, Title of book in italics or underlined, publisher e.g. Scrivener, Jim, 2011, Learning Teaching 4th edition, Macmillan
Failure to comply with the above guidelines may result in exclusion from the course with no warning and you may be excluded from the CELTA program for up to three years.
2 Like this: Scrivener, J., 2005, Learning Teaching, Macmillan Heinemann
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4. The Final Result On successful completion of the course you will receive (usually within two months) a certificate awarded at Pass, Pass B or Pass A level. To be awarded a Pass B you must consistently show “a level of achievement significantly higher” than that required for pass level in relation to “demonstration of the criteria for teaching and professionalism (criteria 1a-‐3c and 5a-‐5n)”. To merit a Pass A, in addition to this your teaching practice must demonstrate “a level of ability and achievement and a level of awareness significantly higher” than pass-‐level in relation to “planning for effective teaching” as well as in relation to the criteria for teaching and professionalism. (Consult the syllabus for details of the criteria.) The meaning of these results from the employer’s point of view is rather unusual. They are of interest to employers less as a record of your performance on the course, more as an estimate of how quickly and effectively you are going to develop as a teacher after it. An employer employing someone straight off a four-‐week CELTA course will be aware that they are still in need of support and guidance to help them develop as teachers, and a professional school will undertake to provide this for fledgling teachers. However, a Pass B functions as an indication to an employer that you are already a relatively independent teacher who will need little support or guidance in most teaching situations. If you have a Pass A, a prospective employer can consider you a thoroughly independent teacher who will be effective in any teaching situation with minimal support. A trainee may sometimes make very good progress during the course, yet only receive a Pass because amongst other things the tutor considers they are not yet confidently independent. Try to take the long-‐term view: throwing this kind of trainee into teaching situations they have not yet experienced without any kind of support is not likely to be beneficial to their further steady development as a teacher! Not surprisingly, some trainees feel disappointed that they are receiving a certificate at the same level as someone who appeared to make less progress than they did. However, as a record of how you did on the course, you will receive a tutor’s report with your certificate, detailing your particular strengths as a teacher. The CELTA is a challenging course by general agreement and to pass it alone is an achievement you can be proud of! You should also bear in mind that realistically no one can expect to turn into a great teacher in a mere four weeks. But that does not mean that you will not develop into a great teacher over the course of your first few years of work. For this reason, CELTA grades have, as it were, a kind of limited validity. Employers know that teachers with a Pass grade will probably develop more over the first year or so after their course than those who were already doing well. In the long term, grades on the certificate lose all significance and many, if not most of those who are now at the top of the profession started out with nothing more than a Pass. It’s worth reminding yourself of this rather than losing any sleep over whether you’re likely to get a B or not! In the event that a trainee is awarded a Fail by their tutors, their portfolio will automatically be sent to the CELTA head office in Cambridge for a second opinion. There it will be examined in detail and the result recommended by Teaching House will be either confirmed or overturned. This process can, unfortunately, sometimes take many weeks.
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5. Glossary of ESL Terms The course can be one long list of new terms, acronyms and jargon. Here’s a way to try and cope with the deluge. It’s not an exhaustive list, but the important ones should be here. Abstract Items Vocabulary concepts that cannot be shown visually, such as
truth, upset, knowledge. (Contrast: Concrete Items) Accuracy Practice Practice of a specific language item that has been presented to
students (See also: Restricted Practice. Contrast: Freer Practice) Acquisition Unconscious learning, or ‘picking up’ of language. Anticipation Considering before the lesson what difficulties students will have
with the meaning, form and phonology of a new piece of language.
Appropriacy Whether an item is suited to who you use it with. For example, it
is usually inappropriate to use slang when speaking to the President.
Authentic Produced for native speakers, not for ESL students. (Contrast:
Graded) Back-‐chaining When drilling a longer sentence, it’s sometimes useful to break it
down into chunks. Starting from the end of the sentence and working back chunk by chunk helps to maintain rhythm and features of connected speech.
Choral Drill All the students in class repeat a given word, sentence etc. at the
same time. Helps to build confidence and allows students to get their mouths around new language. See Drill and contrast: Individual Drill
Cloze exercise A type of gap-‐fill where certain words in a paragraph are deleted
and students have to read the complete text and fill the blanks. Communicative (adj) Involving the transfer of real information that has meaning for the
students. Learners have to listen to one another to do a communicative task.
Comprehensible Input The language that the teacher uses which is graded to the right
level so that students can still understand yet still be challenged. This can also include gestures and body language that aid student comprehension.
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Comprehension Question A question to check understanding of a text or part of a text. Concept Checking Checking students’ understanding of a language item (such as a
word or grammar structure) which has been presented to them – without asking ‘Do you understand?’
Concept Check Questions CCQs – one of the most useful and common ways of checking
concept. A series of simple questions that break down the meaning of the language being presented.
Concrete Items Vocabulary items that can be shown visually, such as book, table,
elephant, bottle. Contextualization Presenting or practicing a language item in a context (such as a
situation or a text) rather than in isolation. The context helps students better understand the meaning and use of the item.
Controlled Practice (Also called Restricted Practice). Oral drills and written exercises
in which students use newly presented language in a restricted way. The choice they have over the language used is limited in order to help them focus on the structure of the language. Compare Freer Practice.
Cuisenaire Rods Wooden rods of different lengths and colors, originally created for
math work. They can be used to depict many language items and concepts.
Detailed Task A task aimed at checking the comprehension of a listening or
reading task. It requires the student to read or listen carefully and understand details. (Contrast Gist Task)
Dialogue Short conversation between two or more people, heard, written
spoken, created (etc.) in class. Drill Teacher-‐centered controlled practice to help learners with
pronunciation, which involves students repeating sentences/words after the teacher or students creating sentences with prompts from the teacher. See Choral, Individual and Substitution Drill.
Echoing When a teacher repeats students’ correct utterances. This is
unnatural, usually unnecessary and increases teacher talking time. It can also be confusing as learners think they have made an error.
Elicit (v) To draw an answer, grammar structure, word, example etc. from
the students by asking questions and giving prompts.
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Finger Highlighting Using the fingers to represent ‘words’ or syllables in order to indicate an error or highlight the form and pronunciation of newly presented language.
Fluency Practice Free speaking or writing, to practice those skills in of themselves.
Students use all the English they have at their disposal to communicate, rather than consciously practicing specific grammatical structures recently studied in class. See also Freer Practice. Contrast Accuracy Practice
Form The way an item is written or said. “Form” is also used to refer to
the grammatical operation of items, as opposed to what they mean or how they are used.
Free speaking or writing See Fluency Practice. Freer Practice Practice of specific items in an activity that allows students a
degree of choice regarding the language they use. It usually involves the students using the target item in the context of other surrounding language.
Function What you express through a piece of language. The task a piece of
language performs. For example, inviting, apologizing or expressing regret.
Functional exponent A phrase which expresses a function. For example, “I’m sorry” is
an exponent of the function of apologizing. Gap-‐fill A written exercise in which students put the appropriate items
into gaps left in a sentence. Also called fill-‐in-‐the-‐blank. NOTE: Be careful not to confuse this with: Information Gap
Generating Interest Before working with a reading or listening text, or before starting
a speaking or writing activity, the teacher creates interest by asking students what they know about the topic, or by doing an activity that makes the topic relevant to the students.
Gist Question / Task A question/task asked to check students’ general overall
comprehension of a text (listening or reading), as opposed to a comprehension of the details contained in the text. Compare: Detailed Task.
Graded (Language) Language (in a text, oral instructions, etc.) that is simplified so
that it can be understood by a foreign learner of English. Grammar The rules that govern the form of a language. The nuts and bolts
that hold the vocabulary together.
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Group Work Students work in small groups, rather than all together or
individually. (Contrast: Open Class) Guided Discovery A technique where students work out language meanings and
rules for themselves. By looking at examples of language and answering written guided questions, students can draw conclusions about the meaning and form of language.
Highlighting Form Drawing students’ attention to the important aspects of how an
item is formed, said or written. It can be done orally (using Finger Highlighting) or on the board (see Written Record).
Highlighting Meaning Drawing students’ attention to the meaning of a particular
language item. Often involves time lines, CCQs etc. Icebreaker An activity done when you first meet a class in order for everyone
to get to know each other, to build a good class atmosphere and to make students feel comfortable.
Illustrating meaning Using a picture, mime, gesture, definition, text, situational story
etc. to demonstrate the meaning of a language item Individual Drill After doing Choral Drilling, the teacher then asks students
individually to repeat a newly presented word or sentence. Compare Choral Drill. See Drill.
Inflection = Intonation (NOTE: This use of the word “inflection” is specific to
American English and will be misunderstood by most speakers of other varieties of English!)
Information Gap An activity in which students use language to exchange
information between one another. The information each student has is different, yet related in some way. By communicating with each other students gain a complete picture. Information gaps can be either relatively controlled, or much freer. It depends on how they are set up, and how much prompting students receive. They are always communicative.
Instructions Checking (ICQs) Asking questions to check that students have understood
the instructions to a task or activity you have set. Contrast: Concept Checking
Intonation Meaningful changes of voice pitch in a word, phrase or sentence.
The “music” part of phonology. Americans often refer to intonation as ‘inflection’.
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Lead-‐in The introduction to your lesson (or to an activity within your lesson), where you introduce the topic, generate interest, get students thinking etc.
Lesson aims What the students will be able to do at the end of the lesson that
they couldn’t do at the beginning (or at least not as well!) Lexis Vocabulary, i.e. words and phrases. Lexical Set A group of words or fixed expressions connected by meaning or
form. For example, ‘furniture’ ‘food’ or ‘adjectives of size’ ‘phrasal verbs with “up”’.
Matching Exercise A written exercise where students match given words and
sentences with appropriate pictures, definitions etc. Meaningful An activity is meaningful if students cannot complete it unless
they understand the meaning of what they are saying or writing. Content is important. Repeating sentences you do not understand is not meaningful! Changing present tense into past or passive mood into active is not meaningful. Contrast: Mechanical
Mechanical Not involving communication. Repetition drills, making positive
sentences negative etc. are mechanical – focusing on form and pronunciation but not meaning. Contrast: Meaningful
Metalanguage The language used to talk about language. For example, the word
‘verb’ is an item of metalanguage. M F P Meaning, Form and Phonology: the three areas you have to cover
when presenting new language to students Model or Marker Sentence A sentence showing a language item in its typical use. New items
are often presented and initially practiced using a Model Sentence, particularly when doing a Situational Presentation. NOTE: A marker sentence does not normally define or explain an item. It simply shows the item in use.
Monitoring After giving directions for a pair or group work task, teachers walk
around the room to make sure that students understand the activity and are doing what was asked. It is also a way to assess progress and listen for errors that can be corrected later.
Narrative A written or spoken story. OHP Overhead Projector.
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Open Class When the whole class is listening to one student or to the teacher. The focus is on the teacher, who is leading the stage of the lesson. See also teacher-‐centered. Contrast with student-‐centered.
Open Questions See WH questions. Pair Work When pairs of students work on a task at the same time. The
focus is student-‐centered. Peer Correction Prompting a student to correct another’s mistake – perhaps when
self-‐correction has been unsuccessful. Personalized An activity which involves students talking/writing about their
own life experiences. Phonology The study or practice of sounds, intonation and word & sentence
stress. Phrasal Verb A verb and particle (preposition or adverb) which combine to
produce a meaning different from the meanings of the verb and particle separately. For example, ‘to run up a bill’ or ‘to get away with something’.
PPP The introduction of a language item through a process of
Presentation – Practice – Production. Situational Presentation is a type of PPP lesson. In this framework ‘practice’ means ‘controlled practice’ and ‘production’ means ‘freer practice’.
Presentation The first stages of “teaching” a new item to students. It is usually
followed by practice activities. Productive Skills Speaking and writing. Contrast: Receptive Skills Prompt A word, mime, gesture, etc. that elicits an item, etc. from
students. Pronunciation How a word or sentence is said – the sounds, stress and
intonation. Realia The actual object used to illustrate meaning. For example, if you
are teaching different types of fruit, you could bring in realia: bananas, oranges, apples etc.
Receptive Skills Reading and listening. Contrast: Productive Skills
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Review Brief re-‐presentation (and practice) of an item that you think or know the students have previously learned. Contrast: Presentation
Roleplay The acting out of a dialogue or conversation, based on some
(usually situational or functional) prompts. It usually provides either controlled or freer practice, depending how much structure and guidance are provided. Usually roleplays are done in pairs or groups. They are not normally then acted out in front of the class.
Running Commentary When a teacher “thinks out loud” in class, causing unnecessary
TTT. It is usually said very quickly and quietly, or comes in the form of an ‘explanation’ that students usually do not need or understand. Examples: “OK, so we don’t have time to do what we were going to do, but I’m going to give you guys a hand-‐out. It’s probably too easy for you and I should have chosen a different one, but just go ahead and do it anyways, and it’s not a very good photocopy, but….”
Self-‐correction Prompting a student to correct their own errors, rather than the
teacher providing the correction. Situational Presentation A type of PPP lesson, where the teacher builds up a context using
pictures, prompts, questions etc., and then elicits or gives a model sentence that includes the target language. After meaning, form and phonology have been highlighted, the language is then practiced.
Skills Language skills are how language is used. Speaking, Writing,
Reading, Listening (see Receptive and Productive skills) Stage A ‘part’ or ‘phase’ of your lesson. Most lessons consist of several
different stages. Stress The emphasis placed on a syllable in a word (=word stress) or on a
word in a sentence (=sentence stress). Word stress and sentence stress are two components of phonology.
Student-‐centered Any approach which encourages students to participate fully in
the learning process, and which fosters autonomous learning. A student-‐centered lesson means the focus is on the students, through pair and group work, eliciting etc.
Student Talking Time (STT) The amount of talking done by students in class. In a language
classroom this should ALWAYS be higher than TTT.
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Substitution Drill A type of oral controlled practice. The teacher gives a model sentence and, after drilling this chorally and individually, prompts students to change specific words in it.
Systems The systems of language are knowledge of how the language
works – what it means and how it’s used. The language systems are grammar, vocabulary, functional language and pronunciation.
Tapescript The transcript of a listening text that usually appears at the back
of the students’ textbook. Useful for planning purposes. Target Language The language item(s) you are aiming to teach in a lesson. For
example, if your lesson aim is to improve students’ knowledge of the past perfect, then your target language is the past perfect.
Task Based Learning A relatively new approach to teaching language which involves
taking a ‘task’ as a starting point, and then raising students’ awareness of the language required in order to successfully perform the task.
Teacher Talking Time (TTT) The amount of talking done by the teacher in class. Too much is a
bad thing, especially if it’s extraneous (see Running Commentary for example). Contrast: Student Talking Time.
Test-‐Teach-‐Test A systems lesson framework where the teacher first checks to see
what students already know about a language item, often by doing some sort of practice activity or ‘diagnostic test’. The teacher then presents or clarifies the aspects which the students have problems with. Further practice of the language item then occurs.
Teacher-‐centered When the focus of the lesson is on the teacher, not the students.
While of course it is necessary for the focus to be on the teacher at some points in the lesson, it shouldn’t be the focus throughout the entire lesson. Too much is a bad thing.
Text A piece of reading or listening. Text Based systems lesson When new language is first encountered in a text before being
analyzed and practiced. Time Line A visual representation of a tense; used for highlighting meaning,
or concept checking. Warmer A short activity at the start of the lesson, before the teacher
moves into the main part of the class. A warmer can be connected
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to the general theme of the day, or could be something completely separate.
WC Not Water Closet but Whole Class. WCFB = Whole Class feedback. WH-‐ Question A question starting with “Who,” “Where,” “What, “How” etc.
Often referred to as an open question, as the answer can be extended. Contrast: Yes/No Question
Written Record The stage in your presentation which involves writing the form
onto the whiteboard for students to copy. It’s not always necessary to do this – a photocopy or an overhead transparency also works.
Yes/No Question A question that requires a Yes/No answer. For example: “Do you
smoke?” “Can you drive?” “Did you watch TV last night?”
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6. CELTA-‐Specific Glossary The following are all bits of jargon you will encounter over the next four weeks specific to this course. You’ll quickly become familiar with them, but it’s useful to have a list to refer to. Assessor University of Cambridge representative who will come to check
the course (during the last two weeks) Assignments Refers here to the four written assignments you have to do.
Contrast TP. Blue book The official booklet where you record lessons taught, classes
observed, and where we track your progress. So called because it is indeed blue. Also called CELTA5. Kept in your portfolio.
CELTA 5 See Blue Book. CELTA5 is so-‐called because there are 4 other
administrative documents from Cambridge that precede it. Feedback Comes in two forms: verbal and written. Verbal feedback is
discussion of your lessons. Written feedback is comments in writing on your lessons and also on your assignments.
Front Page When you submit a lesson plan or a written assignment there is a
‘front page’ that accompanies it. Be sure to attach a front page, as this is where trainers write their comments and grades.
GLP Guided Lesson Planning. The time during the CELTA day where
the trainers will be available to help you with your lessons. Input The seminars and workshops that take place in the mornings. The
part where we teach you. Portfolio The binder you will build up and maintain during the course.
Contains your lesson plans, your assignments and your CELTA5. Procedure page The step – by-‐ step part of your lesson plan that contains stage
aims, details of the procedure, timing and interaction patterns of your lesson.
Progress Reports There are two (and if necessary three) of these during the course.
The first is completed by your tutors at the end of week one, the second is completed at the end of week two, and is accompanied by a tutorial.
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Self-‐evaluation The written post-‐teaching reflection you write after you have finished your lesson.
TP Teaching Practice. The part of the CELTA day when you are the
teachers. TP Points The details of what you are teaching, which order you are
teaching in, and suggestions on how to go about planning your lesson. As the course progresses and you become more independent, these are withdrawn.
Tutorial A one-‐on-‐one meeting held with your TP tutor half way through
the course. A follow up tutorial will be given at the end of stage 3 if necessary.
We hope you enjoy your CELTA course.
All the staff at Teaching House.
www.teachinghouse.com www.myteachinghouse.com