Selecting materials and designing Selecting materials and designing activitiesactivities

In relation to EFL courses, there are In relation to EFL courses, there are several proposals intended to orientate several proposals intended to orientate teachers in terms of the criteria for teachers in terms of the criteria for selecting materials and designing selecting materials and designing activities. Examples of these attempts are activities. Examples of these attempts are those of Bell (1981), Nunan (1991; 1999), those of Bell (1981), Nunan (1991; 1999), Nuttall (1982), and Omaggio (1986), Nuttall (1982), and Omaggio (1986), among other authors. It is possible to among other authors. It is possible to summarize the most relevant criteria as summarize the most relevant criteria as following: following:

1. It is important to get to know the students and 1. It is important to get to know the students and their needs. English language learners’ abilities, their needs. English language learners’ abilities, experiences, and expectations can affect experiences, and expectations can affect learning. Get to know their backgrounds and learning. Get to know their backgrounds and goals as well as proficiency levels and skill goals as well as proficiency levels and skill needs. needs.

2. It is necessary to use visuals to support 2. It is necessary to use visuals to support instruction. English language learners need instruction. English language learners need context in their learning process. Using context in their learning process. Using gestures, expressions, pictures, and realia gestures, expressions, pictures, and realia makes words and concepts concrete and makes words and concepts concrete and connections more obvious and memorable. connections more obvious and memorable.

3. It is relevant to think about a course that 3. It is relevant to think about a course that fosters a safe classroom environment. Many fosters a safe classroom environment. Many English language learners have had negative English language learners have had negative educational experiences. Hence, including time educational experiences. Hence, including time for activities that allows learners to get to know for activities that allows learners to get to know each other is of paramount importance. each other is of paramount importance.

4. It is undoubtedly necessary to be consistent in 4. It is undoubtedly necessary to be consistent in relation to philosophy of learning-teaching, relation to philosophy of learning-teaching, techniques and activities throughout the course. techniques and activities throughout the course. Courses with no consistency tend to be Courses with no consistency tend to be disorganized and confusing for students. disorganized and confusing for students. Improvisation is not a choice. Improvisation is not a choice.

5. It is essential to use authentic (2) materials in the 5. It is essential to use authentic (2) materials in the classroom. Using materials like newspapers, signs, sale classroom. Using materials like newspapers, signs, sale flyers, telephone books, and brochures in the classroom flyers, telephone books, and brochures in the classroom exposes the learner to the reality of the language. exposes the learner to the reality of the language. However, it is advised to use materials manageable for However, it is advised to use materials manageable for the learners. the learners.

6. It is determinant for the course’ success, not to 6. It is determinant for the course’ success, not to overload learners with information. Establishing a overload learners with information. Establishing a balance in each activity between elements that are balance in each activity between elements that are familiar and mastered and those that are new will create familiar and mastered and those that are new will create confidence in the students, and, at the same time, will confidence in the students, and, at the same time, will promote a more easy-going classroom. promote a more easy-going classroom.

7. It is necessary to integrate the four language 7. It is necessary to integrate the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Integrating the four language skills encourage Integrating the four language skills encourage students to improve in EFL integrally. students to improve in EFL integrally.

8. It is important to consider the students’ 8. It is important to consider the students’ cognitive learning strategies. Not everyone cognitive learning strategies. Not everyone learns the same way. Some learners are more learns the same way. Some learners are more visual, others are better listeners and some are visual, others are better listeners and some are more kinetic. Developing different activities that more kinetic. Developing different activities that encourages all cognitive learning strategies will encourages all cognitive learning strategies will create a more efficient learning atmosphere. create a more efficient learning atmosphere.

9. It is relevant to rely on activities that promote 9. It is relevant to rely on activities that promote problem-solving and reflection. Promoting problem-solving and reflection. Promoting activities that enable students to think critically activities that enable students to think critically enables active participation and a reliable enables active participation and a reliable atmosphere for constructing meaning. atmosphere for constructing meaning.

10. It is essential to promote understanding of 10. It is essential to promote understanding of cultural and social differences. Since language cultural and social differences. Since language learning involves more than the learning of learning involves more than the learning of structures, understanding the target language structures, understanding the target language culture and society is of paramount importance. culture and society is of paramount importance.

Primary studentsPrimary students

1. These students need the teacher. They 1. These students need the teacher. They are not independent learners. are not independent learners. Instructions should be simple and clear. Instructions should be simple and clear. Activities should be modelled before Activities should be modelled before students do them. students do them.

2. 2. They are inquisitive and receptive, easily They are inquisitive and receptive, easily motivated, and they readily participate in motivated, and they readily participate in class activities.class activities.

3. They focus on the here and now, on the 3. They focus on the here and now, on the concrete, not the abstract.concrete, not the abstract.

4. Their periods of concentration are short, 4. Their periods of concentration are short, and they need frequent changes in and they need frequent changes in activity type, length, and content.activity type, length, and content.

5. 5. Their learning is intuitive rather than Their learning is intuitive rather than analytical. Repetition, frequent recycling, analytical. Repetition, frequent recycling, and building on earlier acquisitions play a and building on earlier acquisitions play a key role.key role.

6. 6. They need activities including physical They need activities including physical movement and coordination.movement and coordination.

7. 7. They respond to teachers who show They respond to teachers who show patience, a sense of fairness, and firm patience, a sense of fairness, and firm affection. Effective classroom affection. Effective classroom management is VERY important.management is VERY important.

8. Students need praise and recognition, but 8. Students need praise and recognition, but feedback must be genuine. They should feedback must be genuine. They should be measured against their own previous be measured against their own previous performance, and never publicly performance, and never publicly compared to others.compared to others.

When developing materials to use in class the following principles When developing materials to use in class the following principles should be considered:should be considered:

Children learn by doing.Children learn by doing. Children learn better in a positive classroom atmosphere.Children learn better in a positive classroom atmosphere. Variety is motivating.Variety is motivating. Different children learn in different ways.Different children learn in different ways. English can be used to explore broader themes, such as cross-English can be used to explore broader themes, such as cross-

cultural issues, tolerance, social behaviour.cultural issues, tolerance, social behaviour. It is important for all activities to be relevant to the target age group, It is important for all activities to be relevant to the target age group,

both in terms of interest levels and linguistic content, but activities both in terms of interest levels and linguistic content, but activities can be adapted to suit the needs of different pupils, also of mixed – can be adapted to suit the needs of different pupils, also of mixed – level classes.level classes.

The activities should be easy to set up and carry out; moreover the The activities should be easy to set up and carry out; moreover the activities should not require expensive or complicated resources. activities should not require expensive or complicated resources.

Teachers are having to meet the needs of current reforms and Teachers are having to meet the needs of current reforms and developments in education and therefore often need to adapt developments in education and therefore often need to adapt materials to their own classroom circumstances.materials to their own classroom circumstances.

How do We Get Materials?How do We Get Materials?

There are various ways to get information about There are various ways to get information about textbooks and other teaching materials. Many textbooks and other teaching materials. Many materials are published by publishers and materials are published by publishers and developed and distributed by commercial developed and distributed by commercial companies. In addition to publishers, there are companies. In addition to publishers, there are many possible sources of materials. There is a many possible sources of materials. There is a lot of material available on the Internet. You can lot of material available on the Internet. You can search for materials when you have free time, search for materials when you have free time, and store them for your future classes.and store them for your future classes.

What materials can you use in What materials can you use in the EFL class?the EFL class?

Big booksBig books

Flash cardsFlash cards

CdsCds

Interactive white boardsInteractive white boards

PuppetsPuppets

MasksMasks

PostersPosters

Table gamesTable games

Role play - CostumesRole play - Costumes

BlogsBlogs

BlogsBlogs

Videos Videos Pod castPod cast WebPagesWebPages ArticlesArticles ImagesImages AnnouncementsAnnouncements What ever you want What ever you want

BibliographyBibliography Teenagers teacher’s book, Norma, 1999Teenagers teacher’s book, Norma, 1999 Developing resources for primary, Richmond, Developing resources for primary, Richmond,

19971997 English adventure teacher’s edition, Longman, English adventure teacher’s edition, Longman,

20062006 Teaching English to children, Longman, 1999Teaching English to children, Longman, 1999 http://www.allfreeessays.net/student/http://www.allfreeessays.net/student/

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http://iteslj.org/Articles/Kitao-Materials.htmlhttp://iteslj.org/Articles/Kitao-Materials.html