Transcript Document 7341678

Teaching young EFL
learners; factors that
make a difference
Dr Joanna Rodiki Petrides
(PhD)
Presented at Egypt TESOL conference, December
2005.
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
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Need to understand what makes
language teaching successful and
how young learners learn.
Factors that influence language
learning (Skehan 1989).
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Classroom and materials
Social context
Opportunities for target language use
The learner
Learning according to strategies and
processes.
Why these components?
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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.
The research
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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.
Research Methods
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Questionnaires regarding any variable
that relates to the learner, the social
context and the use of language.
Tests (listening and speaking test)
Statistical Analysis:
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Reliability statistics of the tests
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Rasch Analysis (indicated how the whole
population of pupils would perform at the same
test)
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One way Anova indicated the factors that were
of statistical significance (any value lower than
0.05)
An example of the listening test
written statements
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Blue._
You should exercise regularly._
They are my friends from school.__
Once a month.__
Elena is as tall as Monica.__
I’m tired.__
They seem like nice people and they are very friendly.__
Next year.__
At 8 o’clock.__
By aeroplane.__
Not really, I prefer summer time.__
Let’s go to the theatre.__
They didn’t go to school.__
So do I.__
tapescript
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?
What’s wrong with you?
What do you think of your new neighbors?
Variables 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.
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graph
2. L1 ability and performance
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…one’s skills in their native language
affect their ability to learn a foreign
language…
Schooling success and academic
experience are significant aspects in
language learning.
3. Opportunities for target
language use.
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…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)
Suggestions
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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.
Suggestions for the young
learner EFL classroom
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Books and material ought to be
designed according to the needs, age
and interest of the learners ___
motivated and happy learners
VS
• 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
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Learners need a plethora of activities in
order to practice all four language skills.
Communicative and cooperative activities can
make a difference.
The 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)
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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