Post on 24-Dec-2015
Getting beyond the wall in language class
BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL
IN LANGUAGE CLASS
-By ThuyAnh Nguyen –-EFL Conference-
Hue, Vietnam, August 2006
Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
CommunicationCommunication
Standard 1.1:Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversation, Students engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.and emotions, and exchange opinions.
Standard 1.2:Standard 1.2: Students understand and Students understand and interpret written and spoken languages on a interpret written and spoken languages on a variety of topics.variety of topics.
Standard 1.3:Standard 1.3: Students present information, Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.readers on a variety of topics.
"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
CulturesCultures CulturesCultures - Gain Knowledge and - Gain Knowledge and
Understanding of Other CulturesUnderstanding of Other Cultures Standard 2.1:Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an Students demonstrate an
understanding of the relationship between understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of the the perspectives and practices of the culture studied.culture studied.Standard 2.2:Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of the the perspectives and products of the culture studied. culture studied.
"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
ComparisonComparison Connect With Other Disciplines and Connect With Other Disciplines and
Acquire InformationAcquire Information Standard 3.1:Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and Students reinforce and
further their knowledge of other disciplines further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.through the foreign language.Standard 3.2:Standard 3.2: Students acquire Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. the foreign language and its cultures.
"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
ConnectionConnection Develop Insight Into the Nature of Develop Insight Into the Nature of
Language and CultureLanguage and Culture Standard 4.1:Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate Students demonstrate
understanding of the nature of language understanding of the nature of language though comparisons of the language though comparisons of the language studied and their own.studied and their own.Standard 4.2:Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. studied and their own.
"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
CommunitiesCommunities Participate in Multilingual Communities at Participate in Multilingual Communities at
Home and Around the WorldHome and Around the World Standard 5.1:Standard 5.1: Students use the language Students use the language
both within and beyond the school setting.both within and beyond the school setting.Standard 5.2:Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. enrichment.
"Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century."
Using 5 C’s in Using 5 C’s in Vietnamese classVietnamese class
CommunicationCommunication
Use target language in classUse target language in classStudent centered approachStudent centered approachCommunicative activities and discussionCommunicative activities and discussion
CulturesCultures Authentic culture-related materialsAuthentic culture-related materials- Books, legends and folktalesBooks, legends and folktales- AudioAudio- VideosVideos- PicturesPictures- WebsitesWebsites
ComparisonComparison Discussion in class with comparison Discussion in class with comparison
between Vietnam and America based between Vietnam and America based on topics in classon topics in class
ConnectionConnection The use of technology and other The use of technology and other
source to make connection to their source to make connection to their studystudy
Connect their life in what they studyConnect their life in what they study
CommunitiesCommunities Reach out to Communities to learn Reach out to Communities to learn
more of the language and culturemore of the language and culture- Family communicationFamily communication- Friends from VietnamFriends from Vietnam- Chat, emails in VietnameseChat, emails in Vietnamese- InterviewInterview
Identifying the obstacles in Identifying the obstacles in the classroomthe classroom
The class setting is restricted by the FOUR The class setting is restricted by the FOUR WALLS:WALLS:
- textbook knowledge onlytextbook knowledge only- tests as evaluationtests as evaluation- teachers as the only resourceteachers as the only resource
The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible The FOURTH WALL can be an invisible obstacleobstacle
THE INVISIBLE FOURTH WALL
Definition of the 4Definition of the 4thth wall wall The Fourth Wall is a term to describe The Fourth Wall is a term to describe
the invisible wall between the the invisible wall between the audience and the actors on-stage. audience and the actors on-stage. This is because in This is because in proscenium theatersproscenium theaters, , the the setset was usually three walls of a was usually three walls of a room. The audience was therefore room. The audience was therefore "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the "The Fourth Wall," and ignored by the actors. When an actor addresses the actors. When an actor addresses the audience directly, it is called audience directly, it is called "Breaking the Fourth Wall.""Breaking the Fourth Wall."((Wikipedia, the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)free encyclopedia)
Breaking the 4Breaking the 4thth wall with wall with
PP’s approach’s approach
Suspension of disbelief: The term Suspension of disbelief: The term breaking the fourth breaking the fourth wallwall is used in film, theater, television, and literary is used in film, theater, television, and literary works; it refers to a character directly addressing an works; it refers to a character directly addressing an audience.audience.
In Language class: Students should In Language class: Students should not only be the audience, watching not only be the audience, watching the language, they should get more the language, they should get more involved in the process.involved in the process.
Breaking the 4Breaking the 4thth wall wall with P’s approachwith P’s approach
Get the students involved by using Get the students involved by using performance and project based performance and project based assessmentassessment
Quizzes, tests and exams should not Quizzes, tests and exams should not be the ONLY way to give assessmentbe the ONLY way to give assessment
Some ideas with projectsSome ideas with projects Writing journals using WIKI, BlogsWriting journals using WIKI, Blogs Mid-term assignment (interview with Mid-term assignment (interview with
report submission)report submission) Final projectFinal project
10 steps project Ideas10 steps project Ideas Agree on a themeAgree on a theme Determine the final outcomeDetermine the final outcome Structure the projectStructure the project Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Gather informationGather information Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Compile and analyze informationCompile and analyze information Prepare students for language demandPrepare students for language demand Present final productPresent final product Evaluate the projectEvaluate the project
The importance of The importance of CONNECTIONCONNECTION
in project in project
SummarySummary Be aware of the walls in the Be aware of the walls in the
language classlanguage class
CCombine the 5 ombine the 5 CCss
THE ENDTHE ENDTHANK YOU !THANK YOU !
By: ThúyAnh NguyễnBy: ThúyAnh Nguyễn
ESP Resource CentreESP Resource CentreHanoi University of Foreign StudiesHanoi University of Foreign Studies
Email: anh107@fpt.vnEmail: anh107@fpt.vn