Week 10 -- Sociocultural Approaches and ZPD

This week we will look at the social aspects of language acquisition  and how Vygotsky's ideas have been adapted to second language teaching. As you read, please focus on the concepts of mediation, ZPD, and scaffolding. These have the strongest connections to language teaching.

1. Please read SLLT - Sociocultural Approaches.

New reading circles groups this week. Please check the schedule.

Week 9 -- Information Processing and Bloom's Taxonomy

This week we will continue with the Information Processing model of SLA. Does acquisition happen as Krashen believes (naturally) or according to the IP model (like learning a new skill)? We will also use Bloom's Taxonomy to evaluate textbooks. Finally, we'll examine the difference between difficulty and complexity.

1. First, please read SLLT_cognitive approaches.  This is a brief overview of the IP model.
2. Please read Sousa_thinking skills and learning_how the brain learns. Many of you are probably familiar with Bloom's Taxonomy. It is not very important to draw a distinct line between each level; instead, think of the levels as pairs (Remember/Understand, Apply/Analyze, Evaluate/Create). As you read, reflect on your own classroom activities.

As we have been doing, check the ARC schedule for your role. We'll switch up the groups for next week's reading.

Week 8 -- Memory and Processing

For the next two weeks, we'll be looking at Cognitive Approaches to SLA. This view considers the importance of the brain and largely views errors as problems with processing, sort of like an overworked computer.

This is typically a favorite reading among students.

1. Please Sousa -- How the Brain Works. 

Check the ARC schedule and post your role.

Week 7 -- Input, Output, and the Lexical Approach

This week we are tackling two hugely influential ideas about how languages are acquired. We'll be asking "Is input alone sufficient for SLA success?"

1. Please read this short overview of Krashen's ideas -- 01 Krashen's Monitor Model
2. OPTIONAL: For a deeper look at it, you can read 02 Krashen The Comprehension Hypothesis Extended
3. For an opposing viewpoint,please read 03 Swain Output Hypothesis.
4. OPTIONAL: If you want more Swain and your French is decent, read 04 Swain More Output Hypothesis.
5. Finally, please read The Lexical Approach A Journey Without Maps. Quite frankly, the Lexical Approach is being jammed in here because there is no other place for it, but it is one of the most modern approaches to teaching a second language, so I think you'll find it interesting.

This week we are also going to start Academic Reading Circles. This idea is based on Literature Circles. Click here for Literature Circle role sheets that you can use with your own students. 

Each student will be assigned to a new group and each group member will have a role, which will change each week. For example, you might be the Summarizer this week and the Discussion Leader the next.

Academic Reading Circles (ARC) Schedule.

ARC Role Descriptions. (you may have to download this as viewing it in Google drive is a little wonky)