www.macmillaneducation.com developing essential skills for academic success mike s. boyle...

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Developing essential skills for academic success

Mike S. Boylemikesboyle.com

Twitter: @heyboyle


Which are your students used to?A

B

National Insurance Academy, IndiaSource: Vaibhavgang, Wikimedia Commons

Shimer College, USA Source: Shimer College, Wikimedia Commons


For academic success,students need basic skills

•Reading•Listening•Understanding lectures


For academic success,students need basic skills PLUS new skills

•Reading PLUS reading critically•Listening PLUS active listening•Understanding lectures PLUS participating in discussions


Reading criticallyHow many of your students have this attitude to assigned reading texts?

The text is always right and my job is to remember the information in it.

A. Nearly all B. Most C. Some D. Very few


When people read critically, they . . .

•make inferences•consider the sources of information•identify fact, speculation, and opinion•evaluate arguments•… and more!

Making inferences

Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 4, pp. 79


Consider sources of information


Identify fact, speculation, and opinion

Evaluate arguments

Argument = opinion + reasons and evidenceWhat’s wrong with these arguments?

1. “No one saw him leave his house, so he must have been home all night.”

2. “Most drivers involved in car accidents are right-handed; therefore, being right-handed causes car accidents.”

3. “Test scores increased after the school repainted the hallways, suggesting that changes in color have a direct effect on student performance.”


Evaluate arguments


Active listeningIn listening activities, my students’ main goal is usually:

A. understanding the main ideasB. remembering as many details as possibleC. deciding if they agree with the speakersD. connecting the ideas they hear to other ideas


When people listen actively, they . . .

•infer attitudes•are aware of the speaker’s point of view•apply the ideas they hear to other situations•think of ideas to add to the discussion•… and more!

- inferring attitudes (L4 sample unit box text + activity, include the bit about giving evidence)

Inferring attitudes

Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 4, p. 9

Awareness of point of view

Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 21

Applying theories

Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 4, pp. 10-11


Participating in classHow many of your students would agree with this statement?

The teacher’s job is to talk, and the students’ job is to listen. It’s not appropriate for students to add their own ideas.

A. Nearly all B. Most C. Some D. Very few


When students participate in class, they . . .

•ask to clarify or confirm ideas they hear•politely interrupt•add information to a discussion•analyze arguments and give their views•… and more!


Basic classroom language

•What’s ___ in English?•Can you repeat that, please?•I don’t understand.•How do you spell it?•Sorry I’m late.


Academic classroom language

Asking to clarify or confirm•What do you mean by … ?•Could you clarify that for me?•So, your (main) point is … Is that correct?•So, you mean that…

Source: Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 64



Politely interrupting•Excuse me, do you mind if I interrupt?•Sorry (to interrupt), but would you mind if I said something?•Sorry, could I say something?•Excuse me, I was wondering…Sources:Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 4, p. 14Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 54



Adding information to a discussion•That reminds me…•I have another example of this…•I recently read/heard that…•There was a recent story about…•I saw something on the Internet that said…

Sources:Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 4, p. 16Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 74


Analyzing arguments and giving viewsEffective discussion questions ask students to...

• analyze the reasoning in a text• consider more than one side of an issue• give arguments, not just opinions• go beyond personal experience


Analyzing arguments and giving views



Questions?


Thank you!

Mike S. Boylemikesboyle.com

Twitter: @heyboylefacebook.com/boylemike

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