Important aspects to be taken into account to teach English in the public schools in Ecuador
Important Issues The nature of teaching →
methods, teaching skills, strategies, techniques. The role of the teacher Classroom Management → lesson planning, grouping, classroom dynamics, graphic organizers. Teaching the skills → Reading, Speaking, Listening, Writing.
Important Issues Addressing Linguistic Competence → Grammar, Vocabulary and Pronunciation. Curriculum Factors → Syllabus design, materials development. Assessment of Learning → tests and exams The role of technology → Media, Internet Global Issues
Teaching English in a Globalized World UNASUR meeting takes place in Bariloche The communication between Cuenca and Loja is better
Militar Bases in Colombia
Quito is getting cleaner Imbabura’s holiday is My coming LOCAL neighborhood El nuevo aeropuerto recibe dos premios Discrimination against women in Afghanistan The new airport receives 2
REGIONAL NATIONAL
prizes
Ecuador celebrates its Independence Bicentenary
Miss Universe is from Venezuela AH1N1
INTERNATIONAL
Students 15‐20 YEARS AGO
Less access to electronic
devices Less possibilities to travel abroad Traditional families Followed established rules more easily Respect for the elderly Valued parent’s authority Traditional schools Restricted information from the media
2009
Major access to
information technology More opportunities to travel abroad Different family organization Against establishment Question the elderly Question parent’s authority School innovation Widespread information
Teachers 15‐20 YEARS AGO
Less access to electronic
2009
Major access to
information technology devices Less possibilities to travel More opportunities to travel abroad abroad Different family Traditional families organization Less questioning students Students who question authority Less economic pressure Increased economic Restricted information pressure (teachers work in from the media more than one place) Less access to professional Innovation in schools development opportunities Widespread information
Knowledge society.‐ A society where individuals take in information and
then through the process of constructivism in education transform it into knowledge. This knowledge can be used in new situations to make connections and therefore to make meaning , solve problems and make decisions. Information Society.‐ Sometimes this term is used interchangeably with
that of knowledge society , but such a term is misleading because information is more related to facts and figures. University of life.‐ Refers to the fact that nowadays , students for instance
have access to a huge amount of information and they generally know how to get at it without much help from us . It is said that a lot of knowledge is acquired in the University of life rather than in the classroom.
Curriculum needs for students and teachers
Teaching and training methodology Communication for real life
English teachers must
the four skills
with
of
interrelate the teaching
the new dimensions of terms
such as
Metacognition Input Output
Teaching and training content Attitudes
Global issues
Critical thinking
The new language itself Values
Teachers´and trainers´attitudes Monitor
Good Role Models
Guide
are
not any longer the owners of truth and our word is not the last word
need
to guide our students and trainers to transform information in knowledge and recognize that the students should be the center of the educational act
WE
Our classes should reflect more democracy and less authoritarism
Teaching Techniques Induction
Deduction
Discussing
FOR THE USE OF
Role play Pair and group work
Analyzing
TO USE
Create opportunities
FOR
Making inferences Criticizing
Information gap activities
Encouragement of creativity and self‐reflection
Global Issues Culture
Democracy
Racism
Gender
Literacy
Values
Environment
Iliteracy
Politics
All these issues are opportunities to develop critical thinking and in our case to do so though English (which is the global language) means a significant advance and challenge.
How to become a global English teacher Take baby steps before giant strides See the world through eyes other than yours Keep a record of your developing awareness Start with yourself and examine your beliefs, aspirations,capabilities,situation and context. Work on the student self before the bigger issue of the group , the community, the city the country and the world.
Read , read, read…….!
Ask students what they want to talk and learn about
Collect poems, short stories, quotations songs, music, which will help you to touch the matter
Become informed. Watch the news, buy magazines, read an English language daily paper.
Look at local issues in relation to the global ones. Don’t expect students to immediately see the point.
THANK YOU SO MUCH CONTACT INFORMATION: rociolic@yahoo.es