In this paper I am going to analyze and comment an article written by James Hunter. My starting point will be a summary about the text in which I have been working. Next I will contextualize the topic which is “Small Talk”. Then, I will analyze different problematic issues raised in the text in which I propose proposals for solving the problems posed. Finally, I will reflect about the strengths and weaknesses of some points about this article changing some aspects of the author's proposal.
SUMMARY
The author of this article stakes out a clear and insightful position on this educational issue and follows the specific instructions by presenting reasons to support that position. The article cogently argues that a corrective feedback can make learners reluctant to speak but it is necessary for developing fluency, accuracy and complexity . We need to develop a real speaking skill in our students. However, we can find problems that have been developed because of the usage of methodologies with very limited linguistic resources like, for example, CTL (Communicative Language Teaching) because they aren't based in a real teaching and content. Actually we have to call for more creative speaking and thinking, not less.
In further examples, the article shows how “small talk” allows for the linking of ideas that may never have been connected pushing students to think in new ways. This method opens pathways of thinking that were previously closed off to the speaking skill. With increased interdisciplinary interactions, we should use this method to make the speaking would be more related to the real world. For all that, Hunter proposes "small talk" as a methodology which develops language fluency and accuracy language allowing the teacher ...
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...k. Taking this into practice we have achieved working on all skills, make them involved in a research and in an information process which is related to real life. The challenge of the activity will always depends on students’ knowledge level and the teacher will always be responsible for guiding the knowledge of their students.
CONCLUSION
Examining all the various angles and factors involved with improving speaking skill tells us that we have to learn the original meaning of a message to let us communicate with others in a better way. While the proposal does highlight a possibility, more information and more options are required to improve oral skills and the best way to do that is to practice as much as possible.
Works Cited
https://www.celticnots.com/SMALLTALK/errors.html
Task-Based Language Teaching in Foreign Language Contexts: Research and implementation
Speak is a cleaver and an ironic title for a story in which the main character chooses not to speak. The story is written in first-person narration from the point of view of protagonist, Melinda Sordino. Speak is written like an interior monologue in the mind of an introverted teenage girl, like excerpts from her personal diary during her miserable freshman year of high school. Instead of blending in and finding her way through high school. She withdraws and secludes herself from the other students. She calls herself an "outcast." Melinda is so desperate to hide from the world; she turns an old janitor's closet at the high school into her safe haven. She cuts classes to hide in her closet. How lonely could this teenage girl be? All of these characteristics are common in assault victims. Melinda has been seriously disturbed by something traumatic and doesn't feel comfortable talking about it, nor does she really trust anyone. Teenage depression is a common
The thesis, or the main idea of the book, is that by using specific communication techniques, we can turn difficult discussions into productive learning conversations.
racie Allen of the comedy team of Burns and Allen was once asked how one should speak French. She replied, “Well, you speak it the same way you speak English; you just use different words.” When trying to assist in instructing English language learners, they usually have many concepts and language abilities that they need to master, as do the teachers that are trying to teach them. With the incorporation of the concepts and approaches to identify and assess the issues and concerns that we have learned in our classroom instruction, such as lesson preparation, building background, and comprehensible input, we can indeed teach our future English language learners all the right moves with all the right words.
In the novel, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Sedaris has used various literary terms which followed the use of a clear tone. This is clearly depicted with the author’s choice of words, as well as, figurative language. This demonstrates the author’s talent for casually laying out the absurdities of his daily experiences. In the novel, Sedaris has used a depressed tone. He explains how he is depressed by the French instructor. He explains that he is not alone to be belittled, but others also experience a similar attitude from the teacher, during the time they spent in class (Sedaris 13). He explains that the instructor wanted to put everyone down. For instance, he understood only half of what the teacher said, and that the first day that she was in class was very depressing (11). Sedaris also narrates that when the teacher asked that ‘has every one apzkiubjxow, it was very startling because he had not been asked the question for a while and realized that she did not understand the alphabet (11). The author states that the teacher always asked that ‘were you always this palicmkresis (15). It is clear that Sedaris employs nonsense letter arrangements, in order to replace the words that he could not understand (Sedaris 15). Through this, he relates his feelings with what the teacher said and this created pity for him and a mutual understanding (Sedaris 15). This demonstrates a depressed tone.
“…talk is arguably the true foundation of learning”. (Alexander, R. 2011:9) Critically discuss this statement in relation to children’s learning in two of the core subjects.
I believe that teaching and learning is both a science and an art, which requires the implementation of already determined rules. I see learning as the result of internal forces within the person student. I know that children differ in the way they learn and grow but I also know that all children can learn. Students’ increased understanding of their own experience is a legitimate form of knowledge. I will present my students with opportunities to develop the ability to meet personal knowledge.
I feel that these students have the potential and ability to gain the knowledge and to make a valuable impact on today’s society. It will be my job, as a teacher; to make sure that the correct technique is being demonstrated to ensure that these students reach their full potential. The main goal to any teaching technique is to give confidence to that student that he/she can do anything. There is no obstacl...
In this paper, I will be primarily focusing on the importance of feedback in learning. Practise is important to achieve goals but it cannot act alone, in order for a student to accomplish his/her goals he/she needs to practise; while practising it is important to receive feedback. By the end of this paper, I will try to prove why “Feedback is so important in learning”?
Sheen, Y. (2004). Corrective feedback and learner uptake in communicative classrooms across instructional settings. Language teaching research, 8(3), 263-300. Retrieved March 13, 2012 from, http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ805614&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Social interactions through talk involve the constant management of one’s own and other people’s face a term used by the sociologist Erving Goffman for people’s public self- image. Loss of face for any speaker is disruptive & may need to be repaired. For example, by the rephrasing of a comment or by an explicit apology. Others refer to effort to maintain one’s own or other’s face is known as face work, which may involve strategic talk to boost or maintain status: an aspect of the interpersonal function of language use. Therefore, we may speak of speech acts as face threating, possibly causing someone to lose face or face saving, enabling a speaker to escape from potential loss of face. Politeness involves using strategies such as terms of address and degree of directness & formality. These vary according to people’s relative status, the degree of social distance between them & the extent of their solidarity with one another. In some languages the relationship between speakers is encoded grammatically, but in English there used to be a distinction between formal & informal. Terms of address in English indicates relation to the speaker, profession, nicknames & gender. The sociolinguistic rules tell us who has to right to use which term & to whom depend on difference in status between speakers, how well they know each other, then the formality of the situation & the cultural & linguistic
As a teacher language is the most important tool in order to support student learning. The book Elementary Classroom Management by Kerry Williams discusses how language is an important tool to use “language can be a powerful vehicle for activating thought, and as teachers we need to be aware of the role it is playing” (ref pg. 196). The use of words and tone that the teacher uses to the students is significant in the behaviour of students. For example if a student is displaying
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By assuming that students will learn proper communication skills without guidance is a big mistake. Individuals should begin learning basic communication skills at birth and continue learning throughout their educational experience. There are, of course, many types of communication. We use verbal communication, non-verbal communication, written communication and many different forms of. Additionally, communication plays an important role in the process of conveying knowledge as well. Communication is instrumental in education since it helps the instructor and the students to work together with each other. Communication is the most important component of any society. In order, to communicate properly we need correct pronunciation, because pronunciation affects how we understand the meaning of the words. If the sound of a word is different it could lead the listener to believe that the word has a different meaning, and if this happens, it is very obvious that it is a form of improper communication. This may lead to a lot of misinterpretations. To avoid these kinds of problems we need to teach accurate pronunciation. English, in schools, is a very important subject for teaching proper...
I feel that obtaining good speech skills can be vital to resolving workplace issues. Becoming more direct and getting straight to the point with my speech has impacted my experiences in increase my ability of not losing my listeners interest and avoiding improper articulations by speaking or communicating clearly and effectively to obtain a good impression of his or her listener because a person only gets one time to make a first impression. We must understand the power of the tongue. Changing our words can change our situations.
Interaction is a significant part of our daily lives. Oral communication with others is inevitable, and therefore it is crucial for us to acquire the skills to do so correctly. Aside from simply stating words or expressing ideas, oral communication serves various purposes. Oral communication allows an individual to express emotions, ideas, and feelings; it gives people the ability to empower, inspire, and motivate those who listen; and it allows people to share knowledge and traditions, as well as build their self-esteem. Oral communication is also useful in leading us to new discoveries, ideas, cultures, and perspectives (O’Neill). Thus, oral communication serves several different purposes in daily life; yet each of these purposes are connected to an even larger purpose. According to the textbook Communication: Making Connections, “Effective communication is critical to living successfully in today’s soc...