Teaching Esl/Efl With the Internet Catching the Wave Catching the Wave

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THIS TEXT This book is intended as a tool for ESL/EFL instructors who would like to integrate Internet technology into their teaching. A handful of books are currently available that address either how to use computers for. language teaching and learning or the principles of language learning with respect to technology. Instructors, however, may feel overwhelmed by the practical aspects of implementing technology in their classes, or by books that present heavy quantities of theory. For these reasons,Teaching ESL/EEFL with the Internet: Catching the Waveis designed to reconcile both of these important aspects by beingteacher friendlyandpedagogically soundwith clear and practical features. This book equips instructors with the necessary pedagogical principles for using technology in language classes, while providing them with field-tested sample activities that can be implemented immediately or used as practical guides and frameworks with which to create their own lessons. Teaching ESL/EEFL with the Internetintegrates the listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural skills necessary to achieve communicative competence in the language classroom. Each chapter is organized around a primary skill, and additional skills are woven into each activity. The varied activities capitalize on the authentic and constantly updated nature of the Internet, which enables students to learn in meaningful, relevant, and practical situational contexts. The objectives of each lesson are clearly stated and spotlight higher-order thinking skills. All activities include the appropriate schema-building techniques needed to effectively prepare students to work individually or collaboratively with authentic materials. In addition, each lesson includes suggestions for modifying the activities to other learning levels, as well as ideas for expanding the instruction. As additional support for the instructor, an entire chapter is devoted to model assessment rubrics, which may be modified and used at the teacher's discretion. A list of instructional tips relevant to the teaching of each key skill is offered in every chapter. Each chapter also contains a simplified list of language-learning strategies designed to focus students' attention on certain aspects of acquisition. Tips on computer use, Internet searches, and identification of potential problems are provided in the Appendix. This text is not designed for use as a standalone text. Rather, it should help instructors to be more creative and effective in using computers in their classrooms, which in turn will enhance language learning for ESL/EFL students at all levels of proficiency through high school and beyond. USING THIS TEXT Organization of the Chapters For ease of use, each chapter of this text has an explicit focus. Although every section emphasizes particular features of language learning, such competencies cannot be taught in isolation from one another. On the contrary, the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture are interdependent and should be taught through an integrative approach. As a result, multiple features have been woven into all of the lessons in this book. Chapter Guides The necessity and means of integrating a given language skill into the curriculum explained at the beginning of each chapter in the form of a rationale and guide written by field experts. Each chapter's target skill is woven into the lessons with the goal of promoting highly effective communication in the second/foreign language. Each guide presents, an overall view of the skill, followed by specific teacher tips on its integration, and concludes with a reproducible list of ways for students to incorporate the skill. Lesson Use and Adaptability The lessons in Teaching ESL/EEFL with the Internethave been carefully designed and field tested. In aFeyten, Carine M. is the author of 'Teaching Esl/Efl With the Internet Catching the Wave Catching the Wave', published 2001 under ISBN 9780130885401 and ISBN 0130885401.