What is the nature of language? Language is not something to be learned the way a person learns anything else (e.g., playing tennis, driving a car, etc.). Language is an abstract, implicit and complex system. How grammar develops in learner’s mind and brain? What is the role of grammar in second language teaching? In this module we will explore the role and effects of a ‘focus on form’ component in second language teaching. During the module an analysis of how the principles derived from theory and research can be applied to day-to-day teaching of grammar (focus on form) in modern languages will be examined and discussed. Research and theory in instructed second language acquisition provides valuable information about how grammar is learnt and how different factors may impact on the effectiveness of different pedagogical interventions. These pedagogical interventions move from input (e.g. input enhancement, input flood, structured input tasks) to output-based options (e.g. collaborative tasks, structured output tasks). In this module participants will be able to develop their own material for a ‘focus on form’ component and plan how to test its effectiveness in the language classroom through ‘action research’.
10th – 12th Jan 2019
20 hours
Calendar
Calendar
January 2019
10
8.30 registration
9.00-11.00
coffee break
11.15-13.00
break
14.30 -17-00
11
9.00-11.00
coffee break
11.15-13.00
coffee break
14.30 -17-00
12
9.00-11.00
coffee break
11.15-13.00
break
14.30 -17-00
Price 340 Euro. (E’ possibile utilizzare la carta del docente, iniziativa formativa ID.18753)
Professor Alessandro Benati is the Head of the English Department at the American University of Sharjah. He has previously worked in the United Kingdom at the University of Greenwich, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Middlesex University, and the University of Portsmouth. He is honorary visiting professor at the University of York St john, UK. Alessandro is internationally known for his research in second language acquisition and second language teaching. He has published ground-breaking research with James Lee on the pedagogical framework called processing instruction. He is co-Editor of the journal ISLA (Equinox Publishing), and Editor of the Advanced ISLA Research Book Series for Bloomsbury Publishing. He is a member of the editorial board for the journal Language Teaching Research and Co-Editor of the Grammar World Japanese online platform. He has recently launched with John Schwieter a new series for Cambridge University Press called Elements in Second Language Acquisition. Alessandro has co-ordinated national and international high-impact research projects funded by the European Union, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, Sassakawa Foundation, Japanese MEXT, and the School Challenge. He is a member of the AHRC Peer Review College and the REF Panel 2021.He is currently working on two monographs (Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition: An Introduction and Key Issues in Second Language Teaching) for Cambridge University Press.
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