Module 3: Promoting communication in an additional language

Section 1: Providing natural contexts for language practice

Key Focus Question: How can you help pupils to practise language structures in a natural context?

Keywords: classroom management; games; recipes; instructions; processes

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will have:

  • used classroom management to help pupils learn an additional language;
  • used games and everyday activities to develop pupils’ language skills and vocabulary.

Introduction

How much natural exposure – through radio, books, magazines, speakers and TV – do your pupils have to an additional language to that used at home?

The answer might be, ‘Very little. They only hear and use it in their daily class at school.’ This means that you are responsible for providing the kind of exposure to the language that will help pupils:

  • use and become fluent in new vocabulary and grammatical structures;
  • communicate using oral language in social situations;
  • develop their reading and writing skills.

All of this requires a great deal of thought, planning and skill. This section will provide some approaches and techniques to help you.

1. Encouraging the use of English