Getting the most out of your materialsLTP TESOL Certificate

TESOL 12

Dr. Rob WaringNotre Dame Seishin University

Why adapt materials?

The presentation is poorNot enough practice of the target itemThe text is too dense with unknown vocabularyListening is inappropriate (level, age , topic, cognitive load, speed)Too much or too little varietyDialogs are too formal or contrivedIllustrations are inappropriateToo much / too little materials for the lesson lengthComprehension questions too easy / difficultThe answers to comprehension questions can be guessed or easily lifted from the text

Ways to adapt materials

Method – exercise is too mechanical, lacks meaning. Too complicatedContent – too much emphasis on rare and difficult targets, or easy and already known targetsSubject matter – may or may not be interestingSkill balance – the Balanced CurriculumProgression and grading – order of targets or presentation steps may need changingCultural content – may be stereotypical, biased, over-simplistic, to value laden etc.

Objectives for adaptationPersonalize / Individualize – about things relevant to themAllow for autonomyLocalize – to the specific locale / language of the studentsModernize - by method, approach, contentReal flexible choices - not false, unimaginative, rigid choicesInclude all learning types / stylesMake the adapted materials more accessible, engagingEncourage higher-level cognitive skillsLearner centered and learner choiceOpen-ended rather than closed tasksMake the context as authentic as possibleEnrich the input and context with universal appeal

Techniques for adapting

Adding new materialsextending – make it longerexpanding – add something new

Deleting, subtracting (quantity) and abridging (quality) materialsSimplifyingReorderingReplacing

A Typical Reading Text