On Teaching a Language1 Goals for Today Know the definitions of the terms method, methodology, approach, syllabus, technique, activity. Understand the concept of proficiency as an organizing principle. Be familiar with Hadley’s five hypotheses about proficiency-oriented teaching, especially as they relate to formal grammar instruction and error correction.

On Teaching a Language2 Questions for You z What are some of your own good and bad experiences in language teaching? z What do you think the goal(s) of Foreign Language Instruction should be (e.g. fluency, correctness, survival ability?)

On Teaching a Language3 Terminology zMethodology Method Approach Syllabus Technique Activity zEclecticism zProficiency as an “organizing principle” (Hadley)

Proficiency-oriented Methodology: Five Working Hypotheses

On Teaching a Language5 Hypothesis 1 z Opportunities must be provided for students to practice using language in a range of contexts likely to be encountered in the target culture.

On Teaching a Language6 Hypothesis 1 - Corollaries z Corollary 1: Students should be encouraged to express their own meaning as early as possible after productive skills have been introduced in the course of instruction. z Corollary 2: Opportunities must be provided for active communicative interaction among students. z Corollary 3: Creative language practice (as opposed to exclusively manipulative or convergent practice) must be encouraged in the proficiency classroom. z Corollary 4: Authentic language should be used in instruction wherever possible.

On Teaching a Language7 Hypothesis 2 z Opportunities should be provided for students to practice carrying out a range of functions (tasks) likely to be necessary in dealing with others in the target culture.

On Teaching a Language8 Hypotheses 4 z Instruction should be responsive to the affective as well as the cognitive needs of students, and their different personalities, preferences, and learning styles should be taken into account.

On Teaching a Language9 Hypothesis 5: z Cultural understanding must be promoted in various ways so that students are sensitive to other cultures and are prepared to live more harmoniously in the target-language community.

On Teaching a Language10 Homework z Read pp z Answer question #3 on page 130