Alternative Forms of Teaching English

Panel discussions

Debates

Presentations

Talk shows

Projects

AIMS

Development of

• language skills

• social skills

• emotional skills

• life skills

• critical thinking

BASIC STEPS

• What is a…? (description)• Why have a…? (reasons)• Participants• Choosing the topic• General discussion in class• Setting up the room• Assigning roles • Description of the procedure

A DEBATE

• What is a debate?

It is a formal presentation of a major issue to an audience. The issue is presented in the form of a proposition, which is always an affirmative statement. One side (or team) argues in favour of the proposition, and the other argues against it. The arguments are presented in a well-organised, structured and quite formal way.

PARTICIPANTS

the chairperson

speakers for the proposition

speakers against the proposition

journalists

the audience

the judges (optional)

Types of propositions

• based on concepts and ideas of the coursebook (The New Leaders, What If)

• based on a local issue

e.g: Unit “The Only Way Is Up” The New Leaders

Unit “What If I Were A Refugee?” What If Level B2

SOURCES

A woman’s place is at home.

We should help refugees or immigrants to make

their future in our town.

Propositions

Fishing should be prohibited in the Gulf of Geras

Propositions based on a local issue

Preparation

Decide • the date • the room• how to advertise the debate• the roles

ChairSP1

SP2

SP3

SP4

JOURNALISTS

AUDIENCE

JUDGES

After the debate

• The audience/judges vote.

In the next session

• Journalists write articles or reports.

• Students evaluate journalists’ articles.

(which side they take)

• Students write their own articles / reports.(including their own opinion)

Panel Discussion

• The aim is the same.

• The preparation is the same.

• A topic instead of a proposition.

• Usually experts or well-known people take part.

• The audience doesn’t vote.

• Less formal than the debate.

Talk show

• A talk show usually helps the development of the speakers’ skills and communication.

• One or more people can take part.• The talk can be personal or social. • No specific topic• Informal talk • No special setting

Presentation

• One or two students are involved.

• Use of visual aids.

• Time limit.

• The audience evaluates the presentation.

• Newsletters• Electronic newsletter• Wall displays• Posters• Magazines• Banners• Leaflets• Flyers• VIDEO

Projects

Projects can be done

•Individually

•In pairs

•In groups

Short-term projects

Long-term projects

(two types)

The best projects are

group projects.

Basic principles

• Don’t allow more than 5 students or less than 3 in each group.

• Try to form multi-level groups.

Basic principles

• Ask each group to choose their coordinator.

• Give them the deadline for the projects.(Also give them the deadlines for the steps they should follow.)

Basic principles

• If they can’t make a decision on who is going to do what, help them.

• Explain the procedure.

Basic principles

• When they finish, give them time to present their project.

• Ask the rest of the class to evaluate the projects.

Basic principles

You should be positive about whatever they have done.

Remember: It’s not the product. It’s the process.

Alternative forms of teaching help learners improve their language skills.

• Reading (input material)

• Listening (oral resources)

• Speaking (presentation)

• Writing (the outcome of the project)

• Mediation (to transfer information from one language to the other)