Lake Leelanau, Michigan TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

In this unit, I learned about methods to teach the productive language skills of speaking and writing. I learned that writing can be one of the most neglected skills taught in classrooms because many teachers don't like to devote classroom hours to writing so writing often gets assigned as homework. In regards to speaking, I learned about the differences between accuracy and fluency. Teaching for accuracy involves getting students to accurately reproduce language. Accuracy activities usually more controlled and involve drilling or prompting to ensure that students are correctly pronouncing and utilizing language. But teachers can also use slightly freer activities like model dialogues or guided role-plays with accuracy activities as well. Teaching for fluency involves allowing students to experiment and be creative with the language and focusing less on accuracy and exact pronunciation and more on the effectiveness and flow of communication. Good fluency activities include discussions, debates, simulations, communication games and free role play. There are many reasons why students may be reluctant to speak (lack of confidence, cultural reasons, intimidation) but it is important for teachers to overcome these hurdles and encourage students to speak. Pair work, group work, changing classroom dynamics, and careful planning can help encourage students to speak. In teaching writing skills, it is important for teachers to pay attention to details like handwriting, spelling, layout and punctuation.