Title: Teaching young EFL learners; factors that make a difference
1Teaching young EFL learners factors that make a
difference
- Dr Joanna Rodiki Petrides (PhD)
- Presented at Egypt TESOL conference, December
2005.
2- Language is the center of human life.
- Bilingualism multilingualism is the norm.
- Over a billion of people all over the world are
fluent in more than one language nowadays. - So
- Need to understand what makes
language teaching
successful and how young learners learn.
3Factors that influence language learning (Skehan
1989).
- Classroom and materials
- Social context
- Opportunities for target language use
- The learner
- Learning according to strategies and processes.
4Why these components?
- they associate with the young learner and it is
crucial to remember that the child should always
be at the center of the learning process - they can associate with the teacher and enable
them to create conditions that promote successful
learning.
5The research
- Sample 250 year six children (12 different
groups) from public primary schools in Cyprus. - Aim
- to measure the performance in EFL
- to identify the factors that had an impact on
performance.
6Research Methods
- Questionnaires regarding any variable that
relates to the learner, the social context and
the use of language. - Tests (listening and speaking test)
7Statistical Analysis
- Reliability statistics of the tests
-
- Rasch Analysis (indicated how the whole
population of pupils would perform at the same
test) - One way Anova indicated the factors that were of
statistical significance (any value lower than
0.05)
8An example of the listening testwritten
statements
- Blue._
- You should exercise regularly._
- They are my friends from school.__
- Once a month.__
- Elena is as tall as Monica.__
- Im tired.__
- They seem like nice people and they are very
friendly.__ - Next year.__
- At 8 oclock.__
- By aeroplane.__
- Not really, I prefer summer time.__
- Lets go to the theatre.__
- They didnt go to school.__
- So do I.__
9tapescript
- Some children are calling you, who are they?
- I love chocolates.
- Which is your favorite color?
- What tie do you go to school every morning?
- How do people go from Cyprus to England?
- I love winter, what about you?
- When will you start high school?
- How often do you go to the cinema?
- What do you want to do tonight?
- What can I do to feel healthy?
- Whats wrong with you?
- What do you think of your new neighbors?
10Variables that might be involved in foreign
language learning.
- Attitudes and motivation (Learner and Social
Context) - Needs (instrumental )
- Attitudes towards the target language and the
target language community (integrative) - A result of success or failure.
- Teachers associate motivation to the behavior of
learners.
graph
112. L1 ability and performance
- ones skills in their native language affect
their ability to learn a foreign language - Schooling success and academic experience are
significant aspects in language learning.
123. Opportunities for target language use.
- learning a foreign language should be primarily
a matter for learning for communication. Maximum
exposure to and involvement in spoken and written
language with the pupils grasp are the basis for
effective learning. (Sharpe 1994 in Trafford 17)
13Suggestions
- Frequency aids learning
- Pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere is necessary
- A plethora of activities need to be involved in
EFL teaching - Learners need access to authentic material
- Learners need to associate with native speaker
models.
14Suggestions for the young learner EFL classroom
- Books and material ought to be designed according
to the needs, age and interest of the learners
___ motivated and happy learners
VS
15- Visual material can aid comprehension and
communication
- Audio material is a useful tool for reading and
listening comprehension can offer access to
native speaker models
16- Learners need a plethora of activities in order
to practice all four language skills.
Communicative and cooperative activities can make
a difference.
17The computer can be an excellent tool if used
correctly.
Promotes a pleasant environment Individualization
of the work of children Acquire new knowledge in
pleasant ways Communication in real life
situations (internet)
18- Access to authentic materials and native speaker
models - Integrates the benefits of audio and video
materials - Opportunities to practice all 4 language skills
- It enhances the resources available in the
classroom - It offers a variety of options