How is English Instruction in the U.S. Versus China? Dr. Gilda Martinez-Alba Zhu Yushan

What will we talk about from these categories? Reading Writing Listening Speaking Technology

Questions: How many of you have been to China? How many of you have Chinese students? How many of you have ongoing communication with Chinese parents?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… What do you do for reading instruction?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… Reading Phonemic awareness Phonics Vocabulary Comprehension Fluency Language structure Writing connections Analysis of sentence structure and of the types of reading materials Word to word translations

In China – English Instruction includes… Reading: Phonemic awareness Phonics Vocabulary Grammar Comprehension Fluency Language structure Writing connections Analysis of sentence structure and types of reading materials Word to word translations

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… What do you do for writing instruction?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… Writing: Letters Making reading connections Grammar Exposition (inform) Persuasion To perform a task (descriptive) Narration (story telling)

In China – English Instruction includes… Writing: Letters Characters (representing words) Strokes (handwriting) Narration (story telling) Making reading connections (question and answer) Grammar Exposition (inform) Persuasion To perform a task (descriptive)

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… What do you do for listening instruction?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… Listening: Responding to questions and comments Following directions Comprehending a reading (fiction and non-fiction) Tone/Rate/Volume Non-verbal (gestures, facial expressions, eye-movements)

In China – English Instruction includes… Listening: Responding to questions and comments (listening to recorded dialogues) Following directions Comprehending a reading (fiction and non-fiction) Tone/Rate/Volume Non-verbal (gestures, facial expressions, eye-movements) Standard English (mostly American recordings) Different accents in English – Japanese, French, etc.

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… What do you do for speaking instruction?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… Speaking: Sharing stories Expressing views and opinions Arguments / Persuasion Informing Reading aloud Entertainment Building relationships Reciting

In China – English Instruction includes… Speaking: Sharing stories Expressing views and opinions Arguments / Persuasion Informing Reading aloud (used most often) Entertainment (seldom) Building relationships (seldom) Reciting (often) Phonics

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… How do you use technology in your English instruction?

In the U.S. – English Instruction includes… Technology: Smart phone (apps) iPads Computers Video Recordings Interactive boards Blackboard E-books Games AirMedia

In China – English Instruction includes… Technology: Smart phone (apps) iPads Computers Video Recordings Interactive boards Blackboard E-books Games AirMedia All of the above, but only for a very small population.

Overall Observations or HmmM moments: Emphases (for example: grammar) Reading materials Homework Environment Bilingual schools More differences than similarities

Questions/Comments?

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