Developing essential skills for academic success Mike S. Boyle mikesboyle.com

Which are your students used to? A B National Insurance Academy, India Source: 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 critically How 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 allB. MostC. SomeD. 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

Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 4, pp. 29 Consider sources of information

Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 4, pp. 59 Identify fact, speculation, and opinion

Evaluate arguments Argument = opinion + reasons and evidence What’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.”

Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 4, pp. 89 Evaluate arguments

Active listening In listening activities, my students’ main goal is usually: A. understanding the main ideas B. remembering as many details as possible C. deciding if they agree with the speakers D. 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

Participating in class How 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 allB. MostC. SomeD. 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

Academic classroom language 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. 14 Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 54

Academic classroom language 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. 16 Skillful Listening & Speaking Student’s Book 3, p. 74

Analyzing arguments and giving views Effective 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 Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 4, pp. 29

Questions?

Thank you! Mike S. Boyle mikesboyle.com facebook.com/boylemike