Interaction In The Language Curriculum

Interaction in the Language Curriculum offers an innovative theory of language education integrating curriculum practice, research and teaching. It emphasises the interdependence of knowledge and values and stresses the central importance of learning as a social process. Leo van Lier argues that moral as well as intellectual and practical principles must underlie curriculum development and everyday teaching, captured in his triple focus on Awareness, Autonomy, and Authenticity. In addition to its rich grounding in language education practice, the book draws support for his position from diverse sources in sociology, philosophy and cognitive science, from the work of Bourdieu, Giddens, Wittgenstein, Peirce, Vygotsky, Bakhtin, and Dewey. In the current broadening context of language education this study makes an important contribution to research. It presents a coherent philosophical theory as well as considering practical issues in implementation of a new language curriculum. As such, it will be of great benefit to teachers, applied linguists and educationalists generally.

In any classroom, it is through language interaction that students are able to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and understand communication. Classroom Interaction for Language Teachers takes a look at the complex relationship between language, interaction, and learning to help teachers have a fuller understanding of interaction and, in doing so, promote a fuller understanding of their effectiveness as teachers. This easy-to-follow guide uses authentic classroom transcripts and provides practical strategies to help both teachers and learners develop the interactional competence to create more engaged, dynamic classrooms and more active, attentive learners.

Case studies are a powerful pedagogical tool for illuminating constructs and models in real-life contexts. Covering a wide range of teaching-learning contexts and offering in-depth analyses of ESL/ELT language curriculum design issues, this casebook is distinctive and unique in that each case draws on and is clearly linked to a single model presented in Nation and Macalister’s Language Curriculum Design (www.routledge.com/9780415806060), giving the book a high degree of coherence. A short commentary by the editors after each case highlights features of note and/or issues arising from it. This is a versatile text, designed to work as a companion to Language Curriculum Design (adding meaning and depth to the model presented there by relating it to a range of applications), as a stand-alone text, or as a resource for language teacher trainees, teacher educators, practicing teachers, program administrators, and materials writers in the field.

"This important book is a thorough account of early communication covering bilingualism and specific areas of learning of reading and writing in early years. It is well laid out, informative and supportive with excellent case studies. " - Eva Mikuska, Senior Lecturer at University of Chichester The role of the adult in the development of young children’s communications skills through interaction is vital and this book will help you understand this and improve your practice. Taking a chronological approach there is also a particular interest in the needs of two year olds, including the Progress Check at Age Two and the revised requirements of the early years foundation stage. The book features: · Case studies, points for practice and links to video examples · Coverage of bi or multilingual children · Examples of enabling environments for communication and interaction · Ideas of how to work best with parents. Suitable for all those studying or practising in Early Childhood it will develop the way you think about communication and interaction.

Language addressed to children, or 'Baby Talk', became the subject of research interest thirty years ago. Since then, the linguistic environment of infants and toddlers has been widely studied. Input and Interaction in Language Acquisition is an up-to-date statement of the facts and controversies surrounding 'Baby Talk', its nature and likely effects. With contributions from leading linguists and psychologists, it explores language acquisition in different cultures and family contexts, in typical and atypical learners, and in second and foreign language learners. It is designed as a sequel to the now famous Talking to Children, edited by Catherine Snow and Charles Ferguson, and Professor Snow here provides an introduction, comparing issues of importance in the field today with the previous concerns of researchers.

The last twenty years has seen a huge evolution in approaches to language-learning, due to new technology as well changing theories on how to best teach languages. Recognising the key relationship between research, practice and program development, Changing Language Education Through CALL is an important text advocating change that makes effective use of new research into learning styles, as well as new technology. Bringing together sixteen internationally respected experts in second-language acquisition and computer technologies, it presents teachers with user-friendly, flexible ways to incorporate technology into the language learning process and provides both the theoretical and practical basis for CALL applications across a broad spectrum of teaching styles, textbooks and courses. Practical and clearly presented, each chapter in this book concentrates on the learning process and the teacher’s role in facilitating this through the proper and effective use of technology - thus ensuring that the partnership of pedagogical expertise and technological innovation remains the work’s focus.