Overview

This workshop explores the basic building blocks of English from the point of view of an English language learner and offers strategies and activities for the English language teacher. It is based on Standard Two of the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers of Adult ESOL.

    Audience

    This professional development activity/course is designed for:

  • ESOL teachers who are interested in deepening their understanding of the components of the English language and learning techniques for increasing their learners’ language awareness
Description

In this workshop, you will explore the basic building blocks of English from the point of view of an English language learner:

  • What are the sounds in English, and why are some of them so difficult to pronounce?
  • What kinds of vocabulary are useful to know?
  • How does word order in English differ from word order in other languages?
  • How does English communication vary according to the context?

An understanding of these language components will help you to model appropriate language use and to provide meaningful language awareness activities for your learners during ESOL instruction. Workshop activities include analysis of ESOL learner language and strategies for raising learners’ language awareness to meet the goals of the CCR Standards.

This workshop comprises a 5.5 hour face-to-face workshop followed by an online companion course to support you in applying what you’ve learned. The companion course is facilitated by the workshop presenter, and participation is expected.

For more information, contact Dori McCormack at dmccormack@hcc.edu.

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the four basic components of a language system (sounds, vocabulary, word order, and communicative context)
    Explain common struggles that adult ESOL learners may have when encountering these components of language
    Use teaching techniques and activities to present and address these components of language in an appropriate and communication-focused way
    Build adult ESOL learners’ language awareness and college and career language skills through appropriate classroom activities
Presenter(s) / Facilitator(s)
Prerequisites

Before attending any of the workshops on the ESOL Professional Standards, you are encouraged to watch the online presentation Introduction to the Professional Standards for Teachers of Adult ESOL and attend the workshop Standard One: Principles of Second Language Acquisition. You can register for both of these presentations through the SABES Calendar.

Date
11/18/2016 - 9:30 am to 11/18/2016 - 3:30 pm
Location

MWCC- Devens Campus Room 127
1 Jackson Place
Devens, MA
United States

PD Center
SABES English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Curriculum & Instruction PD Center
Topic Area
ESOL/English Learners
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