TESOL Methods: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

About This Course

This practical introduction for teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) presents techniques for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to English as Second Language learners. Candidates learn to assess learner demands and understand the roles played by instructors of second-language learners. Candidates learn to identify learning objectives, formulate lesson plans, employ teaching strategies, select classroom materials, and design assessments for English learners at all levels.

Mrs. Rosie's Teaching Method

Rosie Target Method is derived from Presentation – Practice – Production, or PPP method, The Direct Method, and Understanding by Design (UBD) method. The Rosie Target Method is designed to hit a learning target after certain numbers of lessons like UBD. Rosie Target Method applies some techniques from PPP and Direct Method. The goal is to make the learning fun and productive. 

Based on my background and experiences, I teach younger learners between preschool and 5th grade in China. I have taught one 3rd grade student with my simple ABC lesson plan. The student stopped learning in the middle of the class. I have chatted with the student’s mother, who is representative of many families with younger students in China. Parents send children to English learning centers once a week. Even most of the students have been studying two hours of English in learning centers every weekend in addition to two English classes per week in the elementary schools, and they can’t talk. The student had a problem following the basic instructions. She had faced Affective Filters. Based on the student mother’s description, both the learning center and school are still using the traditional Grammar-Translation Method. Most parents send their kids to the learning centers because it can help them get a better test grade, even if they know the content is not interesting and kids do not have fun. 

World Englishes article says: As local languages, cultures, values, and perceptions toward English can also influence the development and spread of the new language. We must consider the local linguistic “facts” to remodel and reconstruct practices. I hope the Rosie Target Method can help the parents understand that it is not conflicting to have both interests and better grades. I know Asian parents focus more on results. I need to design the lesson plans based on many small targets. The target should connect with China’s common core standard to help students improve grades.

Here are the key 15 ideas in my classroom:

  1. No translation, but demonstrations.
  2.  Question and Answer in a complete sentence exercise.
  3. No explicit grammar rules.
  4. The teacher asks students in the target language.
  5. Conversation practice.
  6. The teacher introduces a topic.
  7. The teacher uses gestures, movements, pictures, songs, etc., to present the topic.
  8. Pair-work.
  9. Student activities include situational role-plays, debate, problem-solving.
  10. Record conversation.
  11. Homework contains online games.
  12. Informal assessment.
  13. Leverage technology to allow students to self-score reading.
  14. Prompt target reward.
  15. Across content between common core and Rosie Target lesson plans.

References:

  • https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/ 
  • https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/english_as_a_second_language/world_englishes/variation_and_development.html5t

My Homework

Chapter 1 -Introduction AND pg 191 to 194
Chapter 2- Grammar translation Method
Chapter 3- The Direct Method
Chapter 4 – Audio-Lingual Method
Chapter 5- The Silent Way
Chapter 6- Desuggestopedia
Chapter 8- TPR
Chapter 9- Communicative Language Teaching

  • Learner Engagement: Motivated, Enthusiastic, Group work, Pair work, Talk encouraged, Teacher centered.
  • Assessment / Student Understanding: Informal understanding assessed.
  • Strategies: Modeling, Clarifying, Repetition of words, Clear directions, Scaffolding, Making real-life connections.
  • Lesson: Well planned lesson plan, learning goals obvious, Direct instruction, Scaffolding of ideas, Transition between
    activities, Closing review.
  • Teaching: Error correction, Enthusiastic, Friendly relationship, Gestures, Voice, Pacing of the lesson.
  • Materials: Paper, Board & markers, Visuals, Interesting realia.
  • Classroom Management: Whole-class work and pair work, Teacher centered, Students move around class, Conversation
    encouraged Low-stress environment

Each teaching method is based on a particular vision of understanding the language or the learning
process, often using specific techniques and materials used in a set sequence. Each method has a
different focus or priority.

My Project

Lesson Plan

Grade/ Age of learner: Pre-beginner/4-6 years old

Video

Learn simple ABC

Reflection & Debriefing

Reflective teaching is an important part of improvement

Course Outcomes

Program Standard

UCLA TESOL Instructor: Kim Lambe - My role model teacher!
"Education is the most powerful weapon that we can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela