Good way to learn language in class? (General discussion) Language Learning Forum

Good way to learn language in class?
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Language Learning Forum : General discussion

QiuJP
Triglot
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Message 1 of 6

03 September 2012 at 3:20pm | IP Logged

Here is an article which introduces a new way to learn English in a class environment.
The method will be examinated in 2015 for the primary school children. I have
highlighted some of the main points from the article. You may view the new article
her
e

Quote:

During English lessons at Woodlands Primary School, students role-play as
representatives from airline companies, nature societies and the media to discuss
issues from different perspectives.

...

Such lessons could point towards how English lessons will soon be conducted.

Since the new syllabus was introduced two years ago, there have been no textbooks or
workbooks. Instead, students are exposed to a wide variety of authentic texts, such as
newspaper articles, websites and posters.

For those taking their PSLE in 2015, they may be asked to evaluate a text that comes
with graphics.

Dr Elizabeth Pang, programme director, Literacy Development, Ministry of Education,
said: "Instead of just one picture or one situation, they can write based on a topic,
and the stimulus comes in the form of three different pictures. They can write on one,
two or three of the pictures. In our trials, the children were able to demonstrate
quite a wide range of responses, and that's what we want to see."

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Iversen
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Message 2 of 6

04 September 2012 at 9:29am | IP Logged

Maybe some or even most children like roleplay, but I hated it.
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sctroyenne
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Message 3 of 6

04 September 2012 at 11:47am | IP Logged

The subjects seem so over-practical (read boring) for primary students. From my one year of experience teaching that age I would have loved a method based on stories. I do like the idea, though, of a method that breaks away from the textbook and gets them communicating, though it'd be interesting to see if it actually works.
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Random review
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Message 4 of 6

04 September 2012 at 12:58pm | IP Logged

Am I just being dumb or something? Surely we should just be looking at how the Dutch and
Scandinavians teach their young kids English and replicate it in our primary schools? I
mean, whatever it is they're doing we know it works.
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Zimena
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Message 5 of 6

04 September 2012 at 3:23pm | IP Logged

I like the idea of using authentic texts, as these show how the language is used in a variety of settings. However, I also agree with Iversen that I hated roleplaying in class - it's especially stupid in languages where you don't have the necessary vocabulary or grammatical skill to express yourself naturally, but just end up choosing from some basic set phrases. In my opinion, this might teach you the phrases, but it doesn't teach you to understand why they mean that or how to vary them even slightly.
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Serpent
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Message 6 of 6

04 September 2012 at 4:00pm | IP Logged

Random review wrote:

Am I just being dumb or something? Surely we should just be looking at how the Dutch and Scandinavians teach their young kids English and replicate it in our primary schools? I mean, whatever it is they're doing we know it works.

The thing is that if you leave them with only school education, they won't learn much...

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