On Pronunciation Teaching and Semiotics (Extra 15% on Test 1)

Hello class!

Pronunciation was defined by McArthur (1992, p. 810) as:

 “The act or result of producing the sounds of speech, including articulation, intonation, and rhythm”.

This paper aims at emphasizing the importance of semiotic elements in pronunciation teaching and suggests ways to implement it appropriately in language classrooms. Then, it describes a lesson plan of a pronunciation class for pre-intermediate level preparation class in detail.

Please click on the link, download the Pdf. article, and read it:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042815046091

After reading the paper, choose three questions from below and answer each one of them in no less than a 100-word paragraph.

Please note that all of them are opinion-based, so mind your own answers and be original with your responses.

There are NO right or wrong answers, just be as professional and objective in your judgement as you can.

1. State your opinion on Kelly's (1969) position on calling pronunciation the "Cinderella area of EFL."
2. What is intelligibility and how do you think it depends on both the speaker and the listener?
3. What are the elements of semiotics? Why is it so important for English teachers to use them in the language classroom?
4. How are language and culture strictly interwoven? Why is it impossible to talk about a language without mentioning its culture?
5. Explain the ultimate relationship between semiotics, culture, and language. How can we effectively bring them to the language classroom?

Please read the whole article, take the time to write good and complete answers, and double check them before submitting them.

Deadline: Sunday, August 05th, at 11:59pm.

Contextualizing Language

Hello class!

Contextualization is the meaningful use of language for real communicative purposes. It helps students understand how language users construct language in a given context. Language learning in context in the classroom can be expressed in such ways as:

• Working with real or simulated situations.

• Paying attention to the physical setting of exchange.

• Knowing the purpose of the exchange.

• Using language that accounts for the roles of the participants.

• Using socially acceptable norms of interaction.

• Paying attention to medium, tone, genre, and register.

Teachers can contextualize language instruction by organizing the content of the language curriculum according to themes or topics. These themes or topics work best when they are threaded throughout the course of study.
After watching the video, choose three questions from below and answer them. Please note that all of them are opinion-based, so mind your own answers and be original with your responses.

There are NO right or wrong answers, just be as professional and objective in your judgement as you can.

1. How were you able to identify the language context (topics, themes, situations)? What did you pay attention to in order to do this?
2. How are the activities that you saw related to each of the contexts (the content areas)?
3. What kind of language naturally evolved as an extension of the activities and context?
4. How might the activities be adapted for different ages? Different topic areas? Levels?

Please watch the whole video, take the time to write good and complete answers, and double check them before submitting them.

Deadline: Tuesday, July 31st, at 11:59pm.

Whole Group Phonics Lesson in Kindergarten

Hello class!

This time you are in charge of analyzing a whole group phonics lesson at kindergarten and answer the questions below. Please note that all of them are opinion-based, so please mind your own answers, watch the video, and be original with your responses. There are NO right or wrong answers, just be as professional and objective in your judgement as you can.

1. What are five good things about the teacher?
2. What are five good things about the class?
3. Please mention three things that you think are not done in a right way, according to the level.
4. Which three things would you do differently in the lesson?
5. Is kindergarten a level you would teach? Why? or why not? Explain.

Please watch the whole video, take the time to write good and complete answers, and double check them before submitting them.

Deadline: Tuesday, July 31st, at 11:59pm.