Approaches and Methods for ESL

Approaches and Methods for ESL

1. Grammar Based

   • Grammar Translation
     • focus on reading, writing, and grammar
     • Minimal development of communicative and oral language skills
   • Audiolingual
     • drills/repitition
     • focus on grammar
     • focus on producing correct forms
   • teacher centered

2. Communicative

   • The Natural Way
     • comprehensible input
     • not as focused on content based instruction
     • influenced by Krashen's monitor hypothesis
     • comprehension precedes production
     • "provide low stress environment to encourage production" (Hererra and Murphy p.201)
   • Integrated Content Based
     • content and language integration
     • "integrate language and content objectives into the same lesson" (Hererra and Murphy, p. 204)
     • building background before instruction
     • use authentic activities
       • learning centers
       • formative and summative assessment
     • cognitively engage students
     • provide visual support
   • Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
     • Scaffolding
       • Use realia
     • Hands on activities
     • Guarded Vocabulary
       • "the teachers conscious control of his or her language in the classroom" (Hererra and Murphy p. 265)
     • Cooperative learning
       • students working together in groups/pairs
   • goal is to provide a language-rich environment
   • student centered

3. Cognitive

   • Calla (Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach)
     • -focuses on "strengthening curriculum, instruction, and teacher expertise throughout the entire period that ELLs are developing academic competence in English" ( Chamot, p. 1)
     • -"integrates content subject instruction with academic language development and explicit instruction in learning strategies" (Chamot, p. 5)
     • Content Knowledge is primary focus
       • language skills taught as needs arise
       • Students learn how to use academic language to communicate subject matter concepts and processes