Papers%20 %20abstracts by APIBA

FAAPI 2001 – Papers P1

Álvarez, Zelmira – Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata “Grammar and Discourse in ESL” This presentation sets to analyze pedagogical grammars of English for advanced students in the search for theoretical assumptions underlying the linguistic descriptions that they provide. It explores linguistic discourse in pedagogical grammars of English with the intention of evaluating its potential for the consolidation of Advanced ESL courses and teacher education programs.

Altamirano, Ana – Asociación Puntaltense de Cultura Inglesa “Learning Strategies: Methodological Implications” How can the teacher and materials help to develop effective learning strategies in the weaker students? Most frameworks for strategy instruction, which are aimed at first and second language learning, provide essential elements that may be adapted to the EFL classroom. This talk will focus on selection of strategies and materials across skills, presentation of samples of materials designed for the FL classroom and a suggested methodology for strategy training. Sponsored by: Macmillan Heinemann

Artigas de Cambiasso, María Inés; Josefina Blanco & Luciano Camio – English Department, Colegio Champagnat – Member of APIBA (MIAC) “Innovation and Change: Action Research in the EFL Classroom”

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 10.20 – 11

Rm: 5 Friday 21st 9.00 – 9.40

Rm: 7 Friday 21st 9.00 – 9.40

How successful can the introduction of action research and case study be as a regular practice in the school? How do we adapt to innovation and change in the EFL classroom? How do these changes impact in a given school culture? How do teachers and students react to these changes? This presentation shows the results of an action research carried out at Champagnat School, aiming at highlighting the importance of collaborative research as a tool for teacher development.

Lothringer, Raquel & María Corina Balbi – Instituto de Enseñanza Superior, Paraná, Entre Ríos – Members of APPI “Let’s be cautious, let’s be respectful: Some Remarks on the Use of Readers in the Literature Class”

Rm: 2 Friday 21st 9.00 – 9.40

The use of anthologies for the teaching of literature has a long-standing tradition. Varied as they are, readers involve selection and editing. The first of these practices is associated with canonicity and the second with texture. New perspectives on the synergistic nature of texts as well as innovative categories for character analysis allow us to disclose the rationale and conceptual frameworks underlying ten anthologies and to discuss the use of readers in the classroom.

Barbeito, María & Graciela Placci – Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto – Member of ARPI “Activities for Developing Successful Strategies for Autonomous EFL Learning”

Rm: 5 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

In this presentation we will describe the approach used in an EFL adult course in an autonomous setting and suggest activities for practical application of strategy training. We will mainly focus on the description of different activities (adapted from Oxford’s taxonomy of language learning strategies) aimed at providing explicit teaching about the nature of foreign language strategies their significance, and how to use, monitor, evaluate, and transfer them. Sponsored by: Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto

 P6

Berrone, María L. & María A. Portela – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba “Looking Back into Training, Thinking Forward into Quality: An Examination of an English Teacher-Training Researchers”

Rm: 7 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

This paper reports on the results of a researcher’s study which analyses the oral organisational competence of graduate English teachers. Such results suggest a reorientation in the training of teachers towards text-based classroom tasks. The session will present a brief introduction to the background and methodology of the study, a detailed account of the results and an examination of the implications for the institution where the study was conducted and for similar teacher-training institutions. Sponsored by SECyT, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

 P7

Bulleraich, Graciela – Universidad Católica Argentina – Member of APIBA “The Treatment of Register Varieties in an ESP Course” ESP is an umbrella term embracing a number of sub-divisions aimed at the study of languages variation or what has come to be known as register analysis. This paper focuses on the distinctive features that characterise three major areas of the ESP market: Business English, the Legal Register and Newspaper language. Special consideration will be given to examples of spoken/written discourse, findings from published teaching material, magazine/newspaper articles and excerpts from an authentic audio recording.

 P8

Busso, María A. “From Classroom Experience to a Workbook” This paper intends to show the design of a classroom workbook, which was the result of 5 years of teaching Business English at Polimodal level. For the design of this practical workbook, the following aspects were considered: the limited language exposure students have at school in the new curricula, the possible future situations in which students may need to use the English language, and the certainty that students hardly ever study English at home.

P10 D’Andrea de Mirande, Lucrecia; Rosa Perea de Otrera & Sara Isabel López – Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la U.N.T. – Member of APIT (LDM) “The Textbook in the EFL Classroom: A Case Study in Tucumán, Argentina”

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

Rm: 2 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

Rm: 10 Friday 21st 9-9.40

This paper is intended to investigate what role is assigned to the textbook by ELT professionals in Tucumán, Argentina; whether it is considered an agent of change or a script dictating the course of action. The findings offered, which derive from the analysis of teachers’ opinions about textbooks, express the reasons that explain and, in a way, justify the role assigned to the textbook in a complex socio-political and economic context.

 P11 Dobboletta, Analía – Asociación Rosarina de Cultura Inglesa

“The Conditions for Language Use in the Classroom and their Impact on the Learners”

Rm: 2 Friday 21st 10.20-11

This case study explores the impact of a series of workshops intended to improve the pedagogic conditions for language use in the classroom with a group of students on their Teacher Training programme. Different data-collection methods were used in order to analyse the factors at play that the learners perceived as relevant. From the analysis of the results obtained, the implications for language teaching will be drawn.

 P12 Forquera, Daniela – Universidad J.F. Kennedy – Member of APIBA

“Multiple Intelligences Theory. Implications for Classroom Management” The main tenets of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory will be briefly presented. Potential beneficial changes in learning quality on applying MI principles to classroom planning on a daily basis will be analysed and this will be followed by the presentation of a program which incorporates MI elements to planning. As a final step, evidence on the learning outcome that emerges when applying the theory will be displayed and analysed.

Rm: 10 Friday 21st 11.30-12.10

P13 Ioli, Silvana M.

“Present-day England: Myths and Reality” This Language and Culture session is for teachers who want to know more about current English culture and enjoy teaching up-to-date lexis. It will explore how contemporary customs have enriched the English language with new lexical items, by looking at issues like the eating habits of the English; their “pub behaviour”; popular television programmes and how these reflect and influence Standard spoken English. Participate in what I hope will be a lively and practical presentation.

P14 López Barrios, Mario & Elba Villanueva de Debat – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba – Members of ACPI “The Teaching of Foreign Languages in Argentina as Reflected in LocallyProduced Textbooks”

Rm: 7 Friday 21st 11.30-12.10

Rm: 10 Friday 21st 10.20-11

Foreign language teaching textbooks reflect a certain methodological approach that is characteristic of the different trends in FL teaching. Authors base the design of textbooks on the findings of linguistic and foreign language learning theories. In addition, there are a number of socio-political factors that have an impact on the design of materials to be implemented in certain contexts. This paper will present the findings of a research in progress on textbooks produced in Argentina.

P15 López Cano, Paula – IES Lenguas Vivas “J. R. Fernández” & ISP “Joaquín V. González” – Member of APIBA “Globalization, the Politics of Cultural Creation and the Practice of ELT”

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 11.30-12.10

Globalization has been at the center of contemporary debate in the media and academia for more than a decade. This presentation will explore the different theories of globalization and analyze how ELT has developed as part of an ever-growing English languagedominated publishing industry. The aim of the presentation is to raise awareness of the implications of recent trends in ELT and to promote greater understanding of our roles as teachers in times of change. Sponsored by: Asociación de Ex-Alumnos del Lenguas Vivas

P16 Martínez, Iliana – Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto – Member of ARPI “Cooperative Teaching in Academic Writing Courses”

I propose a form of cooperation that has proved productive in the postgraduate academic writing courses at the Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. In these courses I attend to the language needs of the learners by taking advantage of the content knowledge that they already possess. I focus the learner’s attention on the linguistic aspects related to the research article genre by directing them to observe the phenomena in articles in their own fields.

P17 Mayol, Cristina – Universidad Nacional de Misiones – Member of APIM

“To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever … The Notion of Teacher Development Through Case Study”

Rm: 2 Friday 21st 16-16.40

Rm: 7 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

This piece of work attempts to explore the notion of teacher development through case study. Framed within the qualitative paradigm, and through in-depth phenomenological interviews to three teachers from ex secondary school in Argentina, I have tried to listen to their voices, taking as backdrop the status of education in this country, the alarming decay in educational standards in the Province, and the social construction of the image of teachers through our history.

P18 McDonagh, Eamonn

“ ‘No es el chancho sino quien le da de comer’: Standards, Foreign Experts, Local Élites and Linguistic Imperialism”

Rm: 13 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

The “profesorados” - basing themselves on an erroneous view of what constitutes standard English - place excessive pressure on trainees to produce RP. Negative consequences of this tendency are outlined and a possible course of action suggested. Attitudes to RP are linked to the role of, and attitudes to, foreign experts in Argentine ELT. An attempt is made to link all of this to broader debates about the role of foreign countries in Argentine life.

P20 Michel Torino, María Marta

“Bilingualism (Diversity vs. Uniformity)” This paper aims at examining why languages have different statuses in bilingual communities, and the consequence that follows, i.e. preeminence of additive languages versus retreat, even abandonment, of subtractive ones. The case of Chorote, in Salta, is chosen both to illustrate the topic and to suggest a course of action. It is concluded that research and subsequent action by individuals and private and public institutions could help prevent minority languages from disappearing.

P21 Moyano, Graciela; Viviana Myslicki & Ma. Isabel Santa – I.N.S.P. Técnico / Universidad Tecnológica Nacional – Members of APIBA “Teacher Growth through Computer-Based Collaborative Work”

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 12.20-13

Rm: 10 Friday 21st 12.20-13

Recent advances in communications and information technologies offer multiple opportunities for collaborative interaction and professional development. We have undertaken two computer-based activities for individual growth, cooperative feedback, and teaching improvement: Collaborative Testing in Phonology: a test designed by different teachers for different groups in different institutions which can also serve for self-evaluation and Distance Learning: teachers as virtual learners exploit technology and become active members of an online community, deriving experience for their students.

P22 Muñoz Maradona, Nora – Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Member of ASJPI “Another Concrete Contribution: Environmental Terminology”

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 16-16.40

When compiling and drawing up-to-date a bilingual English-Spanish glossary of geological, mining and metallurgical terms, researchers, scientists and technicians dealing with such specialized fields suggested it might be useful to widen the initial scope of scientific interest and to include environmental terminology. It is necessary to translate such material perfectly from the point of view of terminology. Its practical applicability would facilitate not only their technical task but also their knowledge of legal concepts and documents as well, helping them to prevent or face up potential conflicts effectively.

P23 Negrelli, Fabián – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

“An Analysis of Some Recurrent Segmental Errors by Spanish Speaking English Trainees: from Research Findings to Teaching Implications and Instructions”

Rm: 2 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

This presentation sets out to explore the competence in pronunciation exhibited by a group of teacher-trainees at Córdoba University. The concerns include an analysis of a group of learners’ production focusing on errors that occur at the segmental level to later proceed with an attempt to explain the underlying causes of these errors. The attempt also includes a number of pedagogical implications arising from the findings and some methodological activities ready for implementation in the pronunciation class. Sponsored by: Facultad de Lenguas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

P24 Pardo Herrero, Myriam

“An insight into FCE/CAE writing skills: Approaches, Assessment Criteria and Recommendations”

Rm: 7 Friday 21st 12.20-13

This paper aims to: a) provide an overview of the main aspects to be considered when preparing students sitting for FCE/CAE Exams, in order to deal successfully with the tasks on Paper 2-Writing; b) "freshen-up" the major points implied in each type of writing; c) raise awareness of assessment criteria; d) provide useful recommendations for teachers. All issues will be discussed and sample scripts will be provided.

P25 Pérez de Pereyra, Alicia & Beatriz Aguilar de Espinosa – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba – Members of ACPI “Reading Comprehension ESP Courses: Should Learning Strategies be ‘Taught’?”

Rm: 1 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

The objective of this paper is to focus on an important aspect of the teaching/learning process of reading comprehension in English for Specific Purposes (ESP): the learning strategies that maximise the acquisition of the skill. The inclusion of the explicit teaching of learning strategies is proposed as a systematic feature in foreign language reading comprehension courses both in the traditional and in the distance learning modes. Sponsored by: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

P27 Riccio de Bottino, Silvana – Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires “Something More about Old and New Language Learning Strategies”

Rm: 5 Friday 21st 10.20-11

This paper provides an overview of key issues concerning the use of language learning strategies in foreign language learning and teaching. It examines their background and summarises the relevant literature. It outlines how LLS training has been used and it also poses questions for further research. What kind of strategies can help us and our students to interact profitably with new technologies? Do we need new strategies, or perhaps a mixture of old and new?

P30 Lowen, Elizabeth – Edexcel International – London Examinations “What is a Good Test and Who is it Good for?”

The speaker will outline the basic principles of good EFL testing for learners from 8 to 80. She will then discuss the more controversial issue of who the tests are good for with reference to the various stakeholders: awarding body, candidates, their teachers and parents, school owners and gatekeepers. Sponsored by: London Examinations

P31 Lucente, Mariela – Universidad Tecnológica Nacional & ISFD N°88 “Writing in EFL as a Recursive Cognitive Process”

What makes people write what they write? What is the difference between an expert and a non-expert writer? These questions are formulated by Hayes & Flowers in their theory of Writing as a Cognitive Process. Results and conclusions from an investigation based on their model of production and protocols as a method of language production analysis will try to throw light to the issue of the Process of Writing in EFL. Sponsored by: ISFD N°88 / UTN

P32 Rozzi de Bergel, Ana María – CENTUM & CAECE

“Understanding the Adult Learner: an Exploration of his Built-in Syllabus” The adult learner has a built-in syllabus and a built-in method for learning, conditioned by his communication strategies, his learning hypotheses, his cultural level, motivational and psychological factors. This is usually associated to the learner’s language ceiling. My research into these processes, which started in 1978, has disclosed some of the characteristics of this built-in syllabus which we should exploit to the learner’s advantage rather than contradict, a concept which questions the usefulness of learner training.

Rm: 5 Saturday 22nd 10.40-11.20

Rm: 2 Friday 21st 16.50-17.30

Rm: 3 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

P33 Sarasa, Ma. Cristina – Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata “Cultural Categories for EFL Textbook Analysis”

This presentation aims at exploring different cultural categories for analysing EFL textbooks. The conceptual headings to be utilized are derived from theoretical research carried out by an interdisciplinary social science team (locally known by its acronym GICIS, i.e. Social Science Research Group) working at the School of Humanities in Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.

P34 Sarasa, María Cristina; Marcela Beatriz Calvete & Juan Ariel Gómez – Departamento de Lenguas Modernas, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata “Kramsch’s Dichotomies: Facing the Challenge”

Rm: 10 Friday 21st 9.40-10.20

Rm: 1 Friday 21st 16.50-17.30

This presentation is a case of study of how to overcome those seven dichotomies that Claire Kramsch postulates as ruling the field of ELT. The presenters will first analyse the theoretical concepts that help to come to grips with the oppositions manifiested by the authors. They will then proceed to describe an actual instance of the integration of language use, multiple literacies, and cultural studies in the EFL Teacher Education Program at Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.

P35 Storni, Verónica – I.E.S. en Lenguas Vivas “J. R. Fernández”, CONSUDEC &

Santa Teresa School – Member of APIBA “Otherness in Literature. The Awareness of the Reader in the Text Target Audience: Language and Literature Teachers”

Rm: 11 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

Reception theory draws attention to the active role the reader plays in the reading process. Some writers exploit this awareness of the reader’s participation in the text. Shakespeare’s Othello, T.S. Eliot’s early poetry, Roger Mc Gough’s “The Newly Pressed Suit”, and Tony Morrison’s Jazz will be anlaysed to exemplify this relationship. Language and Literature teachers need to be aware of the power of the reader in the text, and the implications this has in our classes.

P36 Traversa, Ana – Universidad CAECE & I.E.S. en Lenguas Vivas “J. R.

Fernández” – Member of APIBA “Facilitating the Development of Teachers’ Academic Literacy: A Blueprint for Action”

Rm: 14 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

This paper aims to present the case of a group of experienced Argentine teachers of English as a foreign language taking their first exploratory steps into professional writing. They gain in awareness of their role as potential active members of their academic community at the same time as the possibility of “shaping” it becomes apparent, given the budding nature of academic literacy in the local EFL / Applied Linguistics milieu.

P37 Valsecchi, María Inés; María Edith Chiappello & Ana María Longhini – Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto – Members of ARPI “A Proposal for Evaluating Listening Comprehension”

Rm: 20 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

This paper is a proposal for evaluating listening comprehension at different levels of proficiency. It is based on an adaptation of Anderson’s (1983, 1985) cognitive theory that views listening comprehension as the construction of meaning on the basis of three interrelated processes: perceptual processing, parsing and utilization. The presenters will provide a practical model of how this theory can be put into practice in listening evaluation tasks.

P38 Aparicio, Malvina – Universidad Católica Argentina & Universidad del Salvador “The Karate Kid in the English Classroom: English, Learning and the ‘transversal contents’”

Rm: 18 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

We deal with a requirement of the Educational Reform to ‘traverse’ all knowledge we teach with the contents specified in point VI of the Law, namely, the attitudes & values that foster a balanced, ‘whole’ personality in learners.We do so by proposing the film-viewing in class of an American movie that, treated as ‘cult’ by teenagers, has hardly received any academic attention up to now. We’ll ground our choice on its continued popularity since 1984. We’ll then analyse it from different angles, psychological, cultural, philosophical, etc. Although participants are expected to be familiar with the film, key scenes will be shown as reminders. And while at it, we’ll examine & reflect upon the film-structure which consists of the progressive stages of a learning process!

P40 Fortuny, Liliana – Universidad Nacional de Salta

“A syllabus design for an ESP Reading course at University level” A syllabus design for an ESP reading course for undergraduate students at university level. The syllabus, based on a communicative perspective, proved to be operative since the approach used gives students self-confidence, makes them understand the social dimension of reading, helps them to get to the writer’s intentions, and finally, all activities tend to make them understand the communicative value of the text, the final target of our reading course.

P41 Fortuny, Liliana; Silvia Sastre; Susana Briones & Martha Botto de Pocoví – Consejo de Investigación, Universidad Nacional de Salta “From nominal compounds to efficient abstract writing”

Rm: 12 Saturday 22nd 10-10.40

Rm: 12 Saturday 22nd 11.30-12.10

One of the most important issues in an abstract writing course is to teach how to produce nominal compounds (NCs) to achieve higher lexical density and greater objectivity, to facilitate thematic progression, and to develop concise referencing and a synthetic language. Nominalization is an essential resource for constructing scientific discourse. We will discuss the problems students face when producing NCs and the strategies developed to cope with them.

P42 Sassone, Cecilia – ISP Lenguas Vivas “J. R. Fernández” & Asociación Argentina de Cultura Inglesa (Bs. As.) “Self-access language learning – Challenging our views on ELT?”

Rm: 19 Friday 21st 10-10.40

The presenter will share the results of her research and experience in the design of a selfaccess language learning programme – the first of this kind carried out in Argentina. She will cover the various steps and tasks involved and the results obtained. The topic aims at raising awareness of the implications, advantages and pitfalls of foreign language selfaccess learning, providing further insights about teacher roles and ELT methodology in order to minimise potential problems and maximise learning.

P43 Ruiz Montani, Carolina

“Creating Knowledge Ecologies in a life-long learning perspective: Merging the Virtual and Physical Learning Space”

Rm:1 Friday 21st 9-9.40

Successful teachers in the future might be those who can mediate knowledge online and those who can displace the notion of ownership of information, not those with high profile publications. Knowledge ecologies might develop at an amazing speed. The most challenging role of teachers might be to redefine their roles as e-moderators and promote change in how knowledge is built, used, disseminated, shared and recycled. The presenter will provide examples of how knowledge is built in computer mediated conferencing.

P44 Corine Arguimbau – I.E.S. en Lenguas Vivas “J. R. Fernández”

Rm: 15

Satuday 22nd “Interactive Feedback” 10-10.40 The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of interactive feedback and to discuss how this style of written feedback contributes to trainees’ reflective thinking. The material for this paper, which has been drawn from a case study done at the practicum at IES Lenguas Vivas “Juan Ramón Fernández”, represents a personal concern for development of trainees’ critical reflection by providing different types of written feedback during the observation of trainees’ practice lessons.