The Four Skills

LOG NUMBER 2 OSCAR DAVID GOMEZ ZUÑIGA

The second class of the course of methodology applied to an EFL situation were studied the following topics:
* Describing teachers.
* Listening.
* Speaking.
* Reading .
* Writing.

Describing teachers was the first topic studied according to Jeremy Harmer’s perspective in his book the practice of English Language Teaching.
These chartsshow the main characteristics and skills of a teacher.
A TEACHER IS
A TEACHER IS


A MOTIVATOR
A MOTIVATOR

A PARTICIPANT
A PARTICIPANT
A PROMPTER
A PROMPTER
NOT THE CENTER OF THE CLASS
NOT THE CENTER OF THE CLASS

A FACILITATOR
A FACILITATOR

A COACH AND A TUTOR
A COACH AND A TUTOR

A RESOURCE
A RESOURCE

TEACHERS HAVE TO
TEACHERS HAVE TO

After the role of the teacherwas discussed, it was asked the students to share opinions about one metaphor described in the book The practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer in which is compared teachers as orchestral conductors and gardeners. Later, the next activities had to do with the reflection and explanation of how effectively integrate the English language skills.
The following charts show therelevant aspects regarding the language skills studied in the second session of methodology in an EFL situation.

INPUT AND OUTPUT
INPUT AND OUTPUT

COMPREHENSIBLE INPUT
COMPREHENSIBLE INPUT

LISTENING
LISTENING
EXTRACT THE MEANING FROM TEXTS, RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR WORDS, IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA OF A TEXT, LISTENING FOR THE GENERAL GIST
EXTRACT THE MEANING FROM TEXTS, RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR WORDS, IDENTIFYTHE MAIN IDEA OF A TEXT, LISTENING FOR THE GENERAL GIST

AUTHENTIC MATERIAL: MUSIC, TV PROGRAMS, MOVIES.WEB PAGES, LIVE LISTENING, PODCASTS.
AUTHENTIC MATERIAL: MUSIC, TV PROGRAMS, MOVIES.WEB PAGES, LIVE LISTENING, PODCASTS.

CHALLENGING LISTENING ACTIVITIES
CHALLENGING LISTENING ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SPEAKING:
-DISCUSSIONS
-ROLE PLAYS
-SIMULATIONS
-STORY TELLING

ACTIVITIESTHAT PROMOTE SPEAKING:
-DISCUSSIONS
-ROLE PLAYS
-SIMULATIONS
-STORY TELLING

ASPECTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN SPEAKING
ASPECTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN SPEAKING

-INTONATION
-PRONUNCIATION
-FLUENCY
-ACCURACY

-INTONATION
-PRONUNCIATION
-FLUENCY
-ACCURACY

SPEAKING
SPEAKING

SCANNING
SCANNING

READING IS RELEVANT TO STRENGHT COMPRENHENSION, COHERENCE , AND CONVEY MEANING IN L1 AND L2.
THE LACK OFREADING MATERIALS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND ALSO THE LACK OF READING HABITS IN AND OUT THE SCHOOL IS A CURRENT ISSUE TEACHERS FACE .
READING IS RELEVANT TO STRENGHT COMPRENHENSION, COHERENCE , AND CONVEY MEANING IN L1 AND L2.
THE LACK OF READING MATERIALS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND ALSO THE LACK OF READING HABITS IN AND OUT THE SCHOOL IS A CURRENT ISSUE TEACHERS FACE .
SKIMMING
SKIMMING

READINGREADING

INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE READING
INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE READING

READING BOOKS ALOUD CAN MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO READ.
MAKING UP OWN STORIES

READING BOOKS ALOUD CAN MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO READ.
MAKING UP OWN STORIES

THE BETTER READING RESOURCES THE STUDENTS HAVE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE PRODUCTIVE SKILLS THEY WILL GET.
THE BETTER READING RESOURCES THE STUDENTS HAVE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE PRODUCTIVESKILLS THEY WILL GET.

PUNTUATION
PUNTUATION

VOCABULARY
VOCABULARY

ACCURACY
ACCURACY

WRITING
WRITING

COHESION
COHESION

PURPOSE

PURPOSE

STYLE:ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, ETC
STYLE:ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, ETC

SYNTAX
SYNTAX

The different discussion about the teachers' roles and the integration of the four skills in an English class concluded with a personal metaphor. The metaphor was called The teacher asa bus driver.

The teacher as a bus driver.
A passenger is attempting to get on the bus but the door does not open and he fights to be in. The bus driver is upset because he has not had a nice day so far. The bus driver drives so fast and nobody knows the direction he is taking. The bus stops five blocks ahead of the final destination.
The bus driver opens the door gently and takes the...