Getting beyond the wall in language class BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL IN LANGUAGE CLASS -By ThuyAnh Nguyen – -EFL Conference- Hue, Vietnam, August 2006

Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Communication Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken languages on a variety of topics. Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken languages on a variety of topics. Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics. Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics. "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Cultures Cultures - Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures Cultures - Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the culture studied. Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the culture studied. Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the culture studied. Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the culture studied. "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Comparison Connect With Other Disciplines and Acquire Information Connect With Other Disciplines and Acquire Information Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language. Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language. Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Connection Develop Insight Into the Nature of Language and Culture Develop Insight Into the Nature of Language and Culture Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of the language studied and their own. Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of the language studied and their own. Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Communities Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting. Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting. Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. "Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."

Using 5 C’s in Vietnamese class Using 5 C’s in Vietnamese class

Communication Use target language in class Use target language in class Student centered approach Student centered approach Communicative activities and discussion Communicative activities and discussion

Cultures Authentic culture-related materials Authentic culture-related materials - Books, legends and folktales - Audio - Videos - Pictures - Websites

Comparison Discussion in class with comparison between Vietnam and America based on topics in class Discussion in class with comparison between Vietnam and America based on topics in class

Connection The use of technology and other source to make connection to their study The use of technology and other source to make connection to their study Connect their life in what they study Connect their life in what they study

Communities Reach out to Communities to learn more of the language and culture Reach out to Communities to learn more of the language and culture - Family communication - Friends from Vietnam - Chat, s in Vietnamese - Interview

Identifying the obstacles in the classroom The class setting is restricted by the FOUR WALLS: The class setting is restricted by the FOUR WALLS: - textbook knowledge only - tests as evaluation - teachers as the only resource The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible obstacle The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible obstacle

THE INVISIBLE FOURTH WALL

Definition of the 4 th wall The Fourth Wall is a term to describe the invisible wall between the audience and the actors on-stage. This is because in proscenium theaters, the set was usually three walls of a room. The audience was therefore "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the actors. When an actor addresses the audience directly, it is called "Breaking the Fourth Wall." (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) The Fourth Wall is a term to describe the invisible wall between the audience and the actors on-stage. This is because in proscenium theaters, the set was usually three walls of a room. The audience was therefore "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the actors. When an actor addresses the audience directly, it is called "Breaking the Fourth Wall." (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)proscenium theaterssetproscenium theatersset

Breaking the 4 th wall with P ’s approach Suspension of disbelief: The term breaking the fourth wall is used in film, theater, television, and literary works; it refers to a character directly addressing an audience. Suspension of disbelief: The term breaking the fourth wall is used in film, theater, television, and literary works; it refers to a character directly addressing an audience. In Language class: Students should not only be the audience, watching the language, they should get more involved in the process. In Language class: Students should not only be the audience, watching the language, they should get more involved in the process.

Breaking the 4 th wall with P’s approach Get the students involved by using performance and project based assessment Get the students involved by using performance and project based assessment Quizzes, tests and exams should not be the ONLY way to give assessment Quizzes, tests and exams should not be the ONLY way to give assessment

Some ideas with projects Writing journals using WIKI, Blogs Writing journals using WIKI, Blogs Mid-term assignment (interview with report submission) Mid-term assignment (interview with report submission) Final project Final project

10 steps project Ideas Agree on a theme Agree on a theme Determine the final outcome Determine the final outcome Structure the project Structure the project Prepare students for language demand Prepare students for language demand Gather information Gather information Prepare students for language demand Prepare students for language demand Compile and analyze information Compile and analyze information Prepare students for language demand Prepare students for language demand Present final product Present final product Evaluate the project Evaluate the project

The importance of CONNECTION in project

Summary Be aware of the walls in the language class Be aware of the walls in the language class C ombine the 5 C s C ombine the 5 C s

THE END THANK YOU ! By: ThúyAnh Nguyễn ESP Resource Centre Hanoi University of Foreign Studies