Michael Brand

23 April 2016

Embracing Authenticity

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Of undisputed origin

Not a copy

Genuine

Real

“The Real Deal”

“The Genuine Article”

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intended for native speakers, not second-language learners

Authentic material:

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B1+ ?

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“Ambiguity tolerance”

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Dealing with unknown vocabulary

To preteach or not to preteach?

Can you work it out from the context?

Is there a contrasting statement?

What’s the root?

It flew away.

Last week I went for a walk and saw a Gadwall.It was standing on a rock..

I found him affable, yet they had told me he was unfriendly

Ignore it!

antidisestablishmentarianism

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Ambiguity Tolerance

Raise awareness

Create a risk-friendly atmosphere

Promote speculation

Credit: Steve Oakes

“Good learners learn to live with uncertainty and develop strategies for making sense of the target language without wanting to understand every word” Rubin and Thompson

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This is authentic material, so it’s hard

You don’t need to understand all of it

Shall I play it again?

Wow, that was difficult wasn’t it?

If you don’t know a word, look it up!

Create a risk-friendly atmosphere

I think you’ll enjoy this

What DID you understand?

What strategies can you use?

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Raise awareness

Situational discussions

Two elementary level English students have recently arrived in England with their host families. Someone invites them to the theatre.

No thanks, I won’t understand anything

Great, what time do we leave?

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Promote speculation

Materials choice: can students relate to it?

Questions with more than one correct answer

It’s a _________ day here in Madrid, with a __________ breeze.

So you found a good restaurant in La Latina, ____________ do you want to go?

This curry is too ______________ to eat.

hot when how strong how cool why

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Promoting speculation whilst offering vocabulary support

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What is it? What

does it show?

Why are some words bigger than others?

How do I make one?

Why are the big words useful?

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What can we do with a wordcloud?

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Which words do you know?

Explain / Define / Put it in a sentence

Find 5 verbs / nouns

Find the words: where you play tennis, an opposite, a synonym

Personalise the topic

Are there any more (big) words you don’t know?

Find links between words: predict content

Can you find the ______ sound?

Promote speculation: What’s the video about? Why?

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Post task: students have heard the words in context

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What level would you use the video at for

A) enjoyment and broader understanding?

B) understanding most of the language?

A1A2A2+ B1B1+B2C1C2

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Andy’s feeling nervous that not many people will turn up. But, he didn’t need to worry: nearly 20,000 people are here on the streets of Dunblane…

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Deadspot listening

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Work in pairs

One student watches the video (on mute) and provides a running commentary to their parter who is facing the other way. They tell a lie.

Spot their lie!

Watch intently, speak clearly

Full concentration required to complete the task

with a twist

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Back to back (+lie)At lower levels you could:

Choose a section where the action changes more slowly (or put the video in slow motion!)

Allow the pupil who is speaking to see the section once prior to describing it

Pupils do a summary as opposed to a running commentary

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Thank you!

Any questions ?

Michael.brand@pearson.comBlog: http://eltlearningjourneys.com/http://product.pearsonelt.com/speakout2e/