The Elements Of Foreign Language Teaching

This text presents an integrated description of learning and teaching foreign languages in general, and French and German in particular. Vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, reading, speaking and writing are discussed with a threefold approach: through a linguistic description, an analysis of the learning process and many practical suggestions for teaching.

This book applies sociolinguistics, or sociology, to the problem of teaching foreign languages. The authors use a method they call Transactional Engineering Analysis, employing the findings of sociology to the teaching of the basic skills in language learning. This method uses pattern practices to synthesize the elements of pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence pattern recognition to allow language learners to absorb the rules governing conversational interchanges in the subject language. The appendices include examples of the patterns illustrated in the preceding text.

Language teaching approaches, methods and procedures are constantly undergoing reassessment. New ideas keep emerging as the growing complexity of the means of communication and the opportunities created by technology put language skills to new uses. In addition, the political, social and economic impact of globalisation, the new demands of the labour market that result from it, the pursuit of competitiveness, the challenges of intercultural communication and the diversification of culture have opened new perspectives on the central role that foreign languages have come to play in the development of contemporary societies. This book provides an insight into the latest developments in the field and discusses the new trends in foreign language teaching in four major areas, namely methods and approaches, teacher training, innovation in the classroom, and evaluation and assessment.

Whilst this text for students presents a range of examples that deal with teaching English as a foreign language, the basic guidelines mean that the book offers a suitable introduction for student teachers of any foreign language.

The Practice of Foreign Language Teaching: Theories and Applications is a collection of essays which will appeal to teachers of modern languages no matter the level of instruction. The volume analyzes the concepts of foreign language education and multicultural competence, including the notion of the intercultural speaker. It also discusses the ways in which language education policy develops, by comparing the theories and purposes of foreign language education. The essays collected here highlight the various different methods and approaches in language teaching, and introduce more experienced teachers to new approaches and teaching ideas. The book will also provide language instructors with the theoretical background and practical solutions they need to decide which approaches, materials, and resources can and should be used in their L2 classrooms.

Designed to complement Learning to Teach Modern Foreign Languages in the Secondary School, this book focuses specifically on the skills and processes of teaching MFL at A and A/S level in schools and colleges. The book is divided into three sections: the changing nature of A and A/S level courses; bridging the gap between GCSE and A level; and planning, teaching and assessment. With chapters on learner independence, teaching and learning grammar, planning topics and programmes of work, working with literature, and vocational alternatives, the book will be an essential text for all secondary MFL students and teachers.

When; in accordance with a wish expressed by English and American friends; I determined to have my Sprogundervisning translated into English; I found it difficult to decide what to retain and what to leave out of the original. So much of what I had written appeared to me to apply more or less exclusively to Danish schools and Danish methods; and I had too little personal experience of the practice of English teachers or of English school-books to be quite sure of the advisability in each case of including or excluding this or that remark. -Preface

Issues in Modern Foreign Languages Teaching draws together a range of issues in the teaching of modern foreign languages into one volume that will encourage students and newly qualified teachers to consider and reflect on the issues so that they can make a reasoned and informed judgement about their teaching of MFL. It will be relevant for students and newly qualified teachers at both primary and secondary level and will fill a gap in their knowledge due to time constraints - and an emphasis on standards - on ITT and PGCE courses.