Get your L’s at ELS

Content Based Language TeachingCarol Potter

Advanced Skills Lecturer

TAFESA English Language Services

Why?• Pathways to

employment and social integration

• Student interest

• Appropriate for new client groups

HistoryPilot projects

• Bilingual tutor and small group (2001)

• Class with Interpreter and ESL teacher (2002)

Class profile• Bilingual groups of learners• 2 hours a week for 10

weeks• Close involvement of

Transport SA

Now

• 10 (or 20) x 2 hour sessions

• Regular optional module• Taught at every certificate

level (1-3)• Multilingual classes with

ESL teacher• No interpreter • Less involvement from

Transport SA• Teacher support for

testing process

Methodology• Speaking, listening, reading and

computing• Seating in first language clusters• Emphasis on visual aids:

– illustrated books– slides/transparencies– small and large flash cards– realia – diagrams

• Interactive learning:– Small group– Whole class

• Question/Answer, mime and matching activities

Teaching/Learning materials• Teacher-produced

materials– worksheets– booklets– cards– photgraphs– revision quizzes– intersections

The ‘Get Your L’s’ resource pack• 5 illustrated books

– covers content of SA Driver’s Handbook

– simple English

– thematically arranged

– sequential build up of Give Way skills and road signs books

– Multiple Choice Question test and Give Way test in each book(with answers)

The ‘Get Your L’s’ resource pack

• Give Way cards

– Accompanying A3-sized intersections

– Sequentially arranged

– Answers on the back

The ‘Get Your L’s’ resource pack

• Multiple Choice Question Cards

– Sequentially arranged

– Answers on the back

The ‘Get Your L’s’ resource pack

• Visual Images– Over 200 coloured

images (on CD Rom)

– Follow the sequence of the text in each book

Outcomes • Student relationships• Confidence levels• Commitment

– Drop out rate– Absences - Catch ups

• Punctuality• Homework• Success rates• English development

Advantages of Content-based learning

Language used for real-life purposes– Motivated learners– Collaborative, task-

based learning– Subconscious

language acquisition– Settlement