Gaining Students Fluency and Achieving Flexibility through Group – Work by Tatiana Korinenko Cherkassy Specialized School

Learning is the discovery that something is possible. Fritz Perls Teaching demands not just desirable personality attributes, but specific skills. Skills are not ends in themselves, they are necessary took. Jacob S. Kaenin

Why they don't use English. Peer pressure Lack of motivation. Lack of support. Attainable goals. As with most techniques concerning teenagers, it's important not to give up! For all concerned, the task is not easy but it isn't impossible either. The aim is simply to try and increase the amount they speak English - this could be from 20% of the class to 40%, but it could also be from 0% of the class to 0.5%. Either way, you have had a positive effect on their oral English - so recognize it.

Why student to student interaction is desirable. Participation Maximizing practice time Collaboration Socialization Motivation

Problems we face when trying to increase interaction Student resistance Self-consciousness Mixed abilities Lack of motivation How we can promote an increase in student interaction Pre-teaching task language Giving preparation time Providing support Providing a supportive atmosphere Varying the interaction and repeating tasks Having different levels of task Providing a reason to interact

Group discussion skill Groups work is useful for almost all areas of classroom practice – for grammar and writing tasks, for reading and taking notes while listening. Group work is excellent for speaking and listening – because in groups students can practice simultaneously – so instead of only one or two people practicing the language and everyone else just listening, with group work everyone gets a chance to be active. Why teach group discussion skills.

Sub-skills needed to effectively participate in group discussions Control emotions Use functional language Analyze Persuade

Setting up group discussions There are several key things to consider when setting up group discussions in the classroom to ensure that they run successfully. Choose topics which you are confident your students will find interesting. Get them to brainstorm some ideas for discussions they would like to do and use this as a starting point Ensure a balance between input and practice Use a variety of styles / types Vary group size and procedure Encourage group discussions outside class time Giving and encouraging feedback

Some interesting ideas of regrouping your students. Fire: Aries Leo Sagittarius Earth: Taurus Virgo Capricorn Air: Gemini Aquarius Libra Water: Cancer Scorpio Pisces

Group activities My own story What happened? The story The story in pictures. Finding the way out

Group discussions can take a variety of formats and are useful for all types of students.

REFERENCES 1. Using Group Work in Large Classes Group Working in Practice Group Discussion Skill. 4.Eckrsley C.E. Essential English, (2)(3) books- Roslit, Getting learning talking Student interaction. 7.Skomkin V. P. Communicative exercises – Prosvita, 1996.