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How to Learn English Mark Brierley
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Reading Speed = Number of lines x Average words per line
Number of minutes e.g. 20 x 10 2 = 100 WPM (Words Per Minute)
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Do you want to be able to use English?
Do you want to study English? How do you learn English?
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Please take notes! Write down: Why? Key words Questions Ideas
Writing helps you remember There will be a test for homework!
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What is “English”? What does “learn” mean? English (noun) A language
A subject What does “learn” mean?
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What is a language? a means of communication a symbol of identity
a way to organise thought
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What do you want English for?
Why do you want to study English? Communication Identity Thinking
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Learn or Acquire? Acquisition Learning Different
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Learning vs. Acquisition
What we do in school What happens at home Form and Knowledge Function and Ability Conscious Subconscious
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Learning Acquisition V 2 Z S Y X 1 3 O a to I it was and she the of
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Acquisition does not lead to Learning
You can acquire language without consciously knowing the grammar. Speak to any children!!
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Learning does not lead to Acquisition
You can learn many things ABOUT a language, without acquiring it..
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How do we acquire English?
That’s all! We acquire language when we understand messages in the language. It’s that simple!
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Amazing Facts Language acquisition is effortless
Language acquisition is involuntary no energy no work no choice!
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Input What do you need? If you understand enough input,
acquisition will happen Your brain is a language-learning machine!
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Sources of Input Talking to people in English Reading Watching Movies
It doesn’t matter if their English is not perfect Reading If it is easy to understand Watching Movies If they are easy to understand
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What goes wrong? Problem 1: Input is too difficult
Problem 2: Thinking too much Problem 3: Anxiety
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Problem 1: Input is too difficult.
If the language is too difficult, we don’t get the message. If we don’t get the message, we don’t acquire language.
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Problem 2: Too much thinking
Concentrating on form not meaning Trying to understand every word Trying to understand all the grammar but not the message
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Remember: acquisition is subconscious
If you’re thinking you’re probably not acquiring
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Problem 3: The Affective Filter
Even if we understand the input we can stop it from reaching us.
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We will not acquire the language!
If we are: stressed embarrassed nervous We will not acquire the language! bored tired angry anxious scared
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If we are not enjoying ourselves, we will not acquire language
If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not learning If we are not enjoying ourselves, we will not acquire language Fun is not an option!
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What will you be able to do?
Learning Pass grammar tests Teach grammar Edit papers Translate Acquisition Read fluently Understand conversation Communicate in real time
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Acquisition Activities
Learning Activities Question 1 – or ? Acquisition Activities Translating a passage into Japanese Reading a story Doing a vocabulary test Watching a movie Listening to a teacher's instructions in English Listening to a teacher explain something in Japanese Chatting to your classmates in English Checking spelling Translating a Japanese passage into English
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Question 2- What should you do to help you and your classmates acquire English?
Use simple words Explain things in Japanese if people don't understand Make interesting presentations Think about the grammar of every sentence Enjoy yourself Translate words you don't understand into Japanese Ask questions in English Speak English to other students Write down every new word that you hear
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Question 3 - When reading, what should you do if you don’t understand a word? Ignore it and carry on with the story Guess the meaning Stop reading and get another book Ask someone what it means Look in a dictionary
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First and Second language acquisition
Foreign Language Not necessary A few minutes per week Study Usual fails Mother tongue Necessary Several hours per day Play Almost always succeeds
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English education Efficient Efficient Teacher teaches
“Traditional” Efficient Teacher teaches Text books Boring Input Hypothesis Efficient Students listen and read Stories Fun
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The Grammar industry vs. Real Language
Tests Correct answer Short texts No context Real world No correct answers No absolutes Plenty of context
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Which is better? Wrong Question! Learning Acquisition
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Teaching materials must be:
Interesting Authentic Comprehensible
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References Krashen, Stephen D. and Tracy D. Terrell. 1983.
The natural approach: Language acquisition in the classroom. Hayward, CA: Alemany Press.
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