Teaching Oral Language

What do you currently do to teach oral Language in your

class? Write down one thing that works

really well in your class. Share your strategy with your

group. Summarise & report back

We use language in different ways

Socio-culturalLanguage structures & features

KnowledgeLearning

how to learn

Communication

Interpersonal

Informational

Aesthetic

Relationships

Transactions

Giving information

Getting informationProcessing & usinginformation

Listen to, read/view& respond

Participate in or create

Activities that teach the informational use of language Barrier games Sequencing activities

Whole group Small group Individual efforts

What works for you? Write down one activity to teach

the informational use of language that has worked for you.

Activities to teach the Aesthetic use of language Songs, chants, rhymes & nursery

rhymes Tongue twisters – having fun with

language Listening to and telling stories Innovating on texts

Activities to teach the interpersonal use of language Role plays – practising what to say

Telephone Situational language eg messages to

teachers, shop, front office, doctors etc

Rehearsing – teaching kids how to rehearse in their heads

Adapted from WTT, Fran Murray

The students & teachers build

positive, communicative

relationships as they work together

The Active Teacher

1. Knows the kids & Plans for their needs

The Learning Context

– classroom, program, teacher & students

2. Provides a reason for kids to use English

3. - Helps kids to understand what they are going to learn & how to go about it

- Provides models of English & helps kids with English when they are using it

The Active Learner

4. Takes risks & uses English to learn

5. Supports the kids’ learning to help them take risks

6. Can talk about what s/he is doing & what s/he has learnt

Prepared by

Sue Coleman - Literacy Project Officer

Ruth Gledhill – Manager ESL for ILSS Program

2006