CONTEXTUALIZING

LANGUAGE

SANTY REQUEJO SALDAÑAsantynaoo7@hotmail.com

srequejo23@gmail.com www.tipsforteachers-santy.blogspot.com 05/10/2013Santyna 2013

ENGLISH PLUS

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WHO AM I?

Objectives O To create an understanding of the

need for contextualizing language

O To suggest ideas for realizing those concepts in the language classroom

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IT`S WARM IN HERE.

The meaning of language depends on where it occurs

and what the speaker wants

people to understand.05/10/2013Santyna 2013

CONTEXTUALIZING LANGUAGE

O It is the meaningful use of Language for real communicative purposes.

O It helps students understand how language users construct Language in a given context.

O Teachers can contextualize L instruction by organizing the contents of the L curriculum according to themes or topics.

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ANA:We can leave the ice here till we need it.

BOB:It`s warm in here.

ANA:Is it? OK,then, let`s find somewhere else.

O Where does the conversation take place?

O What is Ana`s /Bob`s tone of voice?

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Native speakers understand the answers BUT what about

OUR learners?

How do we determine the appropriate language to use?

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CONTEXTThe situation or environment in which language is used.

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CONTEXT

RELATIONSHIP:

WORDS+IDEAS

It refers to meaningful language use for communicative purposes within a given situation or context.

“real” world language use

How language is used by speakers of

that language

Construct language in student`s

learning environments

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Students need to learn how to CONSTRUCT language for a given situation.

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Cognitive

aspect

Socialaspect

VARIABLES

COMMUNICATOR`S PURPOSE

ROLES AND STATUS

SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE NORMS OF BAHAVIOR AND INTERACTION

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TEACHER`S RESPONSIBILITY

To provide useful,

accurate and comprehensi

ve input

To design language learning

activities that facilitate language

construction

To provide support for

learners`efforts

Let`s compare these contexts (situations).How might language differ?

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Why contextualize L? it helps learners understand the

function (purpose) of language it assists learners in developing

appropriate use of language It makes language more meanigful in

THAT CONTEXT It adds the cultural element, combining

language and culture It is communicative It engages learners in real-world

scenarios05/10/2013Santyna 2013

Your turn.

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Create a short dialogue.Consider context

VIDEO ANALYSIS

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SHAPPING THE WAY

WE TEACH ENGLISH

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ACTIVITY TOPIC LANGUAGELEVEL

MATERIALS

SOURCE: Shapping the way we teach English

Strategies for contextualizing L

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Activate students`prior background knowledge

Use authentic materials

Use roleplays,projects,problem-

solving tasks,puzzles

Type of curriculum

CONTENT-BASED CURRICULUMTHEME-BASED CURRICULUM

AUTHENTIC MATERIALSAUTHENTIC ACTIVITIES THAT

REQUIRE “REAL” COMMUNICATION

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AUTHENTICMATERIAL

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brochures

Tourism web sites

List of hotels or restaurants

Make a list of businesses

VIDEO DISCUSSION

You will see examples of different kinds of authentic materials used in different classroom settings:O Describe the materials that you seeO How were they used?O Do you think the use of them were

important? Why or why not?

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Let`s reflectO In groups brainstorm a list of authentic

materials that could be used in YOUR classroom

O What are some activities you could do with those materials?

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materials activities Pictures of daily

activities Describe what people

are doing using the present continuous

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materials activities

Pictures of daily activities

Describe what people are doing using the present continuous

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ROLE PLAYS

Why use role plays?O Allow for meaningful interaction in the target

language

O Give language a purpose

O Allow practice of grammar and vocabulary in a

contextualized setting

O Provide opportunities to practice

communication/fluency

O Give students the confidence to use language

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Let`s roleplay the following situations.How might language differ?

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What did we learn?O Language is MORE meaningful if we

understand the context

O CONTEXT can be understood

through: *activating Ss`background

knowledge *using authentic

materials *using

roleplays

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RESOURCES:O Shapping the way we teach English

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Adapted by Santy Requejo Saldaña