Course 4-Final Blog

Practical Pieces of Knowledge:

I thought I was a good ESL teacher before taking this course. I always reflected on my lessons and thought of ways to improve them. Now, I question everything I do. I really don't feel as competent as I used to. I realized I was teaching more like a regular teacher than an ESL teacher. There is a difference.

I didn't know much about teaching ESL from a communicative approach. I segregated grammar too much. Vocabulary, and pronunciation weren't embedded in my lessons as much as they could have been. I didn't know about creating lessons around functional tasks. Now, I understand more about creating a task and analyzing all the language that is needed to carry out that task so that it can be transferred to real life. Modules should be planned with an overarching theme and topics. It's also essential that:

1) proper assessments are made
2) continual feedback and assessments occur throughout the course
3)vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation are embedded in lessons and taught in context
4 different formats are used
5) inductive and deductive learning is encouraged
6)info gaps and role plays are used to replicate real life tasks
7)realia and authentic materials are incorporated
8)students spend time reading each class
9)listening skills are encouraged since listening is neglected
10)receptive and productive tasks are utilized
11)accuracy and fluency need to be balanced
12)students receive controlled and guided practise with feedback
13) communicative practise is done after controlled and guided practise  to encourage autonomy
14) pronunciation is taught so that it doesn't interfere with communication

In my opinion, no one should be allowed to teach ESL without taking a CTESL approved course. This is to ensure that teachers are all "on the same page" to maximize student learning.