TFL Final Exam
What is the difference between brainstorming and webs?
Brainstorming is a mental process that starts with one idea and then sparks off-others through random and spontaneous links, a web is a way of writing down ideas and connections without forcing them into linear form as in a list or in text
The _____ _____ approach starts children reading and writing at sentence level, and its key feature is the child's use of his or her own experience as the topic of texts.
Language Experience
_____ _____ include being able to read and write different sorts of texts for different purposes.
Literacy skills
What is the difference between narrative and dialogue in children's stories?
Narrative text concerns the series of events, dialogue is the use of language as it would be spoken by the character, they are distinguished by their time-frame
_____ _____ focuses on letter-sound relations, building literacy skills from the bottom-up. The usual way involves showing children the sounds of the different letters in the alphabet, then how letters can be combined.
Phonics teaching
_____ in language use involves learners selecting and adapting their language resources to say or write exactly what they mean; _____, the term more often used in the literature, refers to using the language correctly relative to the target form.
Precision, accuracy
How can we analyse text on a semantic level?
Skilled readers know where important information will be found, they can direct their attention efficiently and skip over unimportant parts
Explain how some of the reasons behind reading problems originated in the historical construction of literacy and the demands that are then placed on individual learners.
Spoken language was used to represent mental ideas and meanings while written language was developed to represent talk, different societies have produced different ways of writing down talk, conventions and rules emerge and are re-learned in each generation
Explicit teaching about features of the written language can help move children on, as part of a broader reading skills programme. The procedure has five steps: list them.
Start from a meaningful context, focus the pupils' attention on the unit and key feature being taught, give input examples, provide varied practice, give pupils opportunities to apply their new knowledge and skills
How does the learner's L1 literary experience have the ability to affect learning how to read in English as a foreign language?
The way the child is being taught to read the first language will create expectations about how foreign language reading will be taught, it may confuse children by requiring them to cope with different definitions of success
In the ____ _____ approach, the child reads the text and then looks and remembers key words. The term 'key words' was used because the sight words taught were taken from the most frequently used words in English.
Whole Words
What are some prototypical features of stories?
a formulaic opening, introduction of characters, description of the setting, introduction of a problem, a series of events that lead to the resolution of the problem, a formulaic closing, a moral
List the four discourse skills children can practice through stories and verbally explain two of them.
acting roles, retelling the story, using story discourse in other contexts, using story situations as a starting point
A further variation on theme-based teaching is an _____-_____ _____, where an overarching theme links the content of a lesson, and learning of language takes place as children participate in a range of events on the theme.
activity-based approach
How can we analyse context on a semantic level?
any sources of information that are not inside the text but come from the reader's world
When it comes to pupils' uses of the L1 in the classroom, there are two primary functions: _____ ___ _____ from teacher or peers and ______ to teacher questions.
asking for help, responding
'Fluency' in spoken language use has a written equivalent, although there is not a single word to label it. In reading in the foreign language, the integration of different level reading skills in tackling a text will gradually become more _____ and _____.
automatic, faster
Using songs or rhymes as a sort of "white noise" in the classroom not only engages students in fun ways, but doing so during other tasks provides _____ _____ _____.
background language exposure
If literacy knowledge and skills are only partly developed for the L1, then only some aspects are partially available for transfer. Learners might mix knowledge, skills and strategies between their languages, and '_____ _____' may occur, with L2 reading strategies being applied to L1 texts.
backward transfer
What is vocabulary knowledge in the foreign language?
being able to sound out a written word, knowing the word already will speed up recognition, known words will be easier to hold in short-term memory
Two basic planning tools for theme-based teaching are _____ and _____. Both allow for non-linear connection of ideas.
brainstorming, webs
What are some features of quality stories?
characters and a plot that engage children, the art work is as important as the text, a strong feeling of satisfaction when the end is reached
List at least four of the seven features of emergent literacy that are most relevant for foreign language teaching.
children choose the books they want to hear and read, children are motivated by choice and by the quality of the writing they encounter, children often choose to read the same book many times and this is a valuable learning experience, meaning comes first because the child understands the story as a whole; attention moves downwards from the story to words and to the letters, the link between reading and oral skills is very strong because children adopt and play with the language of the story, parents can be involved with their children's language learning through reading aloud with them
What is the primary, most serious potential drawback to theme-based foreign language teaching?
children will want to talk about what's happening and switch to their first language
The dynamic nature of theme-based teaching can be enhanced by building in '_____ _____', where pupils and the teacher can pick directions, activities, or timing.
choice points
In situations where language resources are stretched, children may need to break down _____ of language, previously learnt as wholes, into their elements, recombining the parts to create new phrases that convey the child's meaning.
chunks
A distinction is made between ______ and ______ uses of the two languages available to teachers.
compensatory, strategic
In terms of active literacy through attention to detail, children learn about _____ very early on--even if mum leaves, she will come back. A much finer focus is needed to read texts.
conservation
The use of the foreign language in theme-based teaching is largely determined by the _____ and _____.
content, activities
What are the eight levels of a text base (in other words, eight levels of textual analysis on a semantic level)?
context, text, paragraph, sentence or clause, words, morphemes, syllables, letters
We must insert choices into the classroom. Each stage in the _____-_____ _____ will generate repetition of the vocabulary about the materials, as well as other simple but useful phrases.
decision-making process
Although reading for understanding is more than saying what is written down, reading does link to speaking, as written words are '_____' into spoken words.
decoded
The balance of dialogue and narrative in a story may affect the way a story is used. _____ in a story may lend itself to acting out and to learning phrases for conversation, while _____ may offer repeated patterns of language that will help grammar learning.
dialogue, narrative
A real benefit of theme-based learning is that it offers a natural use for a wider range of _____ _____, both spoken and written. Even at a very simple language level, children can experience a wide range.
discourse types
_____ _____ (or: _____ _____ ) focus on how children work out for themselves the secrets of reading and writing from participating in literacy events.
emergent literacy, whole language
A good story for language learning will have interesting characters that children can _____ with, who take part in activities that the learners can make sense of, with a clear _____.
empathise, plot
When mother tongue is used in lessons, it is more likely to be used to manage classroom activity and behaviour. Name at least six teaching uses of the L1 in the classroom.
explaining aspects of the foreign language, translating words or sentences, giving instructions, checking understanding of concepts or instructions, eliciting language, focusing pupils' attention, testing, talking about learning, giving feedback, disciplining and control, informal talk with pupils
True or false? Skilled readers make sense of written text by bypassing "turning text into talk" and going straight to understanding.
false, skilled readers do actually process every letter of words on the page but very quickly, fluent readers use a voice in the head for difficult texts or texts that need special attention
True or false? Theme-based teaching works as the only form of content and/or methodology, meaning it cannot be combined.
false, this works most realistically for a few lessons a week to supplement other work and to help build skills needed
Pupils can plan an activity together before starting, and can be brought together in the middle of the process to show their 'work-in-progress' to others. This teaches students how to _____ _____.
give feedback
List the objectives for readers up to the age of 7 in terms of starting to read/write in EFL in regards to text.
have a positive attitude towards literacy, learn how text is written down, participate in a range of literary events
Stories and themes represent _____ approaches to language teaching and learning that place children's involvement with authentic uses of the foreign language.
holistic
_____ _____ types provide language learning opportunities that go beyond those of the narrative or story. For example, a book contains organisational features such as a contents page, an index, headings and sub-headings.
informational text
List the four ways to encourage a literate environment in the classroom. Verbally explain two.
labels, posters, messages, reading aloud
How does the learner's L1 have the ability to affect learning how to read in English as a foreign language?
language learners are likely to transfer their skills and strategies to a new language, the transferability of knowledge and strategies depends closely on how the two written languages work
Planning now has to bring a '_____ _____ _____' to it, so that planning moves from content to FL classroom activities, with discourse types and aspects of language use guiding the construction of language learning tasks with clear goals.
language learning perspective
In planning the use of a story, the teacher can identify language use and make three rough groupings: name them.
language that children have already met, new language that will be useful for all children to learn, new language that may or may not be learnt depending on individual cases
The language learning opportunities offered by theme-based teaching in the foreign language classroom arise from the content and the activities that pupils undertake. Together, the content and activities produce _____-_____ _____ and _____ _____.
language-using situations, discourse types
List the objectives for readers up to the age of 7 in terms of starting to read/write in EFL in regards to words.
learn a basic set of words by sight, begin spotting words and letters in books
List the objectives for readers up to the age of 7 in terms of starting to read/write in EFL in regards to letters/sounds.
learn the names/shapes/sounds of initial consonants, begin to learn the alphabet in order by name
List the objectives for readers up to the age of 7 in terms of starting to read/write in EFL in regards to sentences.
learn to copy short sentences with personal meaning, read them aloud
What are some task demands very young children would have while reading?
learning how written text functions, fine motor skills needed to shape and join letters, constraints on memory
List the objectives for readers up to the age of 7 in terms of starting to read/write in EFL in regards to morphemes/syllables.
listen to rhymes and songs, be able to say or sing along by heart
Storytelling is an oral activity, and stories have the shape they do because they are designed to be _____ ___ and _____ ___.
listened to, participated in
An activity, such as story-book reading, in which reading and writing is involved can be described as a '_____ _____'.
literacy event
What are the three ways we can promote active literacy learning?
making literacy a multi-sensory experience, attention to detail, having fun with literacy skills
Theme-based teaching can be tightly planned in advance, or it can be allowed to evolve '___-_____' through dynamic teaching and learning.
on-line
How does the learner's knowledge of the foreign language have the ability to affect learning how to read in English as a foreign language?
oral skills are an important factor, having phonological awareness and vocabulary knowledge allows learners to properly engage with a text, children should only encounter written words that they already know orally
How can we analyse a paragraph on a semantic level?
paragraphs break texts into manageable sections, they contain a topic sentence
Children's stories contain uses of language that are considered typical of poetic and literary texts. Name the seven language features of children's stories and verbally explain four.
parallelism, rich vocabulary, alliteration, contrast, metaphor, intertextuality, narrative and dialogue
When children write texts that need a particular type of organisation, they can be shown how to write a plan that shows the _____, the _____ and the _____, and they can be encouraged to talk about their ideas to the teacher before writing the full text.
parts, content, links
What are some classroom activities that practice the theory of mind?
penpals, letters and email messages, very simple stories, articles about events or media
What are the basic three stages of any language task?
preparation, core activity, follow-up
The emergent literacy 'movement' has had a useful impact on ideas about reading: name at least two of these ideas.
put the learner first, see literacy skills as a collection of experience with texts, children find entry points into reading, reinforces the importance of understanding what you read, highlights that school textbooks are often less interesting or well-produced than normal ones
A good story is one that listeners or readers enjoy. However, stories that that remain favourites with children and parents do demonstrate some common features that can be identified as characterising _____.
quality
An equality issue in theme-based teaching can arise if teachers choose themes that they hope will keep the interest of the most demanding pupils, but then neglect the interests of _____ or _____ pupils.
quieter, shyer
What are the five questions used to evaluate the language learning opportunities of a story?
real books or artificial ones, is the content engaging, are the values and attitudes acceptable, how is discourse organized, what is the balance of dialogue and narrative
We can take the idea of a 'literacy event' as being some kind of social activity that involves reading and writing, and see that it can link to the idea of _____ and _____.
routines, formats
Talking to oneself when making or doing something can help even adults to focus and concentrate. If children do use the foreign language to mutter to themselves while they are working on activities, they will get extra practice in _____ and _____ language.
selecting, adapting
Stories with a structure close to the prototypical format are likely to be most accessible to children. That means clear _____, ______, _____, ______, and ______.
setting, plot, characters, problem, resolution
How can we analyse a sentence on a semantic level?
skilled readers draw on their 'close-up' grammatical knowledge, groups of words with a sentence are automatically recognised and processed as units
A second way in which written language is often much less natural than spoken language for children is in its _____ _____ ___ _____.
social context of use
The activities to be carried out by pupils sometimes generate particular types of discourse, either as _____ or as in _____ teaching and learning.
sources, outcomes
Give at least three reasons stories provide an interesting approach to language teaching.
stories offer an imaginative world for children to explore, themes can branch into many different directions, bringing the world into the classroom creates different demands for the foreign language teacher, stories can serve as metaphors for society and parental relationships
If children are to become independent readers, they need to acquire a wide range of _____ for making sense of texts.
strategies
How can we analyse a syllable on a semantic level?
syllables are phonological intra-word units, a syllable can be broken down into an onset/rime, being able to notice the rimes within syllables is one aspect of phonological awareness
Policies that insist on '_____ _____ _____' are usually justified in terms of maximizing learners' exposure to the language and thus their learning opportunities. The underlying assumption here is that the more language the pupils hear, the more they will learn.
target language only
While the children are busy making and doing activities, the teacher can move around the classroom using key language items in talk with the children, commenting on what they are making and suggesting alternatives. These are all examples of _____ _____.
teacher intervention
Why does a gap appear between policy and practice around using the target language?
teachers do not feel sufficiently confident or competent to use the foreign language for the full range of functions, asking for foreign language use only place teachers in a continual struggle against the natural forces of communication
The first key organising feature of stories is that events happen at different points in time; they occur in a _____ _____.
temporal sequence
Readers build up an understanding of the text as they go along, sometimes called a '_____ _____', which is a kind of dynamic and temporary meaning for the text, that draws on information processed at a different scales.
text base
What are the four main factors we take into consideration as having the ability to affect learning how to read in English as a foreign language?
the L1, the learner's L1 literary experience, the learner's knowledge of the L2, age
What is phonological awareness in the foreign language?
the ability to hear the individual sounds and syllables that make up words
How does the learner's age have the ability to affect learning how to read in English as a foreign language?
the age of a learner correlates to their cognitive development and the task demands of reading
The Language Experience has some nice features in terms of starting reading, which can be adopted in foreign language classrooms: name three.
the child's ideas are used to compose the reading text, child and teacher together compose the sentences, punctuation is present from the start as part of the physical reality of sentences, the integration of writing and reading helps the child see how texts are composed and understood
How can we analyse a morpheme on a semantic level?
the morpheme is a visual unit or a part of a word that carries a meaning through its form
What is the argument between "real books" and "specially-written ones"?
the question of whether authentic materials provide important social information and contexts or if they are overwhelming for L2 purposes
How can we analyse a word on a semantic level?
the word is a key unit of both form and meaning in reading and writing, words in written text have spaces on either side so they are easy to spot, words are learnt often as wholes and seem to be recognised on sight
The other key organising feature of stories is their _____ _____; there is some central interest factor that changes over the timescale of the story.
thematic structure
The essential notion of _____-_____ _____ is that many different activities are linked together by their content; however, if done less well, it quickly leads to chaotic and ineffective classrooms.
theme-based teaching
Throughout the years of primary education, children gradually develop a more sophisticated understanding of how other people think and function, as they develop a _____ ___ _____ that enables empathy with others. This aspect of social and emotional development will impact on their ability to write (or speak) for an audience.
theory of mind
What is the problem with the "target language only" mentality?
to assume a simple linear relationship between exposure to language and learning irons out much of the complexity of teaching and learning, it ignores the possibility that certain uses of a common mother tongue might also contribute to foreign language learning
In the simplest version of theme-based foreign language teaching, a _____ provides content for a range of language learning activities.
topic
Embedded in both the broader and narrower concepts of literacy is the idea that reading and writing are essentially about _____: readers will construct meaning, and writers will ensure it.
understanding
Careful planning can predict and help maximise some possibilities, but there will still be a degree of _____ about the language that will arise in theme-based activities.
unpredictability
Stories can help children feel positive about other countries and cultures, which means that stories should be checked for _____ and _____.
values, attitudes
Writing may involve turning spoken language into written words, but it also involves more than that. Reading brings together three types of information: list them.
visual information from written symbols, phonological information from the sounds symbols make, semantic information from the conventional meanings associated with words
Theme-based work is likely to introduce new _____ items, with the theme providing support for understanding and recall.
vocabulary
How can we analyse a letter on a semantic level?
written letters have names as well as sounds, the latter helps a lot in reading, knowing grapho-phonemic relationships is essential
Theme-based teaching can produce moments when pupils' language resources are stretched. Supported by meaningful content, children may be able to work out the meaning of new or unfamiliar language. Stretching resources in this way pushes the child into the _____ ___ _____ _____ (or: ___).
zone of proximal development, ZPD