Page 15 - ELG1601 Nov Issue 441

November 2016 ELreviews Page 11

The lower the age,

the higher the quality Book of the month

Emily Hird looks at a text for teachers of young learners Discussions and More conveniently divided by length and
complexity: shorter, medium-length and
Penny Ur, Cambridge University Press;
978-1-1074-4275-7 longer activities. A balloon debate, Alibi
and Picture Differences will be familiar to
Teaching English to Young Importantly, the volume also minds make sense of the world. The original handbook Discussions that many teachers. I love PechaKucha, where
Learners: Critical Issues in reflects the trend towards lower- This holistic approach is widely Work came out in 1981. This 142-page students give twenty slide presentations,
Language Teaching with 3–12 ing the starting age for English advocated across the contribu- second edition is fully revised and adds taking twenty seconds per slide; the
year olds language teaching by including tors, and we are prompted to new ideas suitable for younger and origins of this activity should be credited.
Edited by Janice Bland, an excellent chapter by Sandie embrace the intrinsically inter- lower-level learners. The activities are The book includes many photocopiable
Bloomsbury Academic; Mourão on the specific needs of disciplinary nature of young designed to provide meaningful language tasks; minimum preparation is required for
978-1-4725-8856-2 the pre-primary age group (3–6 learner teaching. In a chapter practice. Clear procedures are provided most activities. This great treasure trove of
years). This section deals with dedicated to intercultural under- alongside variations and follow-up ideas ideas is as valid today as it was over thirty
his volume sets out to the ways in which good pre- standing, Patricia Driscoll and wherever appropriate. The activities are years ago.
address the issue that, primary English instruction is Helen Simpson make the case
Tdespite young learn- qualitatively different from pri- that primary language teach-
ers significantly outnumbering mary teaching, with a particular ers are well placed to cultivate
adults studying English, adult emphasis on play-based activi- curiosity and openness to diver- Mixed-Ability Teaching practical ideas. For example, back. The Starter level in this
learners remain the default ties and fostering English as a sity, and argue for long-term Edmund Dudley and Erika ‘traffic-lights’ involves students popular series is highly
focus in most EFL teacher train- tool to be used in other activities. planning through the whole Osváth, OUP; using red, orange or green cups practical, with easy-to-use
ing, syllabus design, classroom Few teachers of young learners curriculum which incorporates 978-0-1942-0038-7 to indicate the level of help they communicative exercises such
methodology and research. This would disagree with the conclud- learning objectives associated need with a particular task. as describing pictures of
authoritative work therefore pro- ing message in the chapter on with cultural concepts. This is a 112-page practical Includes an excellent list of celebrities and deciding if your
vides research-based analyses of materials development that the The volume does not shy away guide for teachers in primary useful websites. Recommended. picture is the same or different
the particular methodologies and single most important ingredient from some of the big challenges, and secondary school settings. from your partner’s. The
issues most relevant to primary for creating a successful learn- however. Inadequate teacher train- The introduction sensibly points Straightforward Second grammar syllabus is
and pre-primary English lan- ing environment is to ‘provide ing and in particular the need for out that ‘to some degree, all Edition Starter A1+ appropriate. Unsurprisingly for
guage teaching contexts. an engaging and enjoyable expe- a focus on the primary level in classes are mixed ability’. The Students’s Book plus this low level, the book includes
No overview of this field would rience of English’. Motivating teacher education is highlighted as eight sections cover a range of Workbook many high-frequency words
be complete without some dis- learners emerges as a recurring a key concern, as is specific train- areas such as classroom Lindsay Clandfield, and uses the Macmillan star
cussion of Clil, technology and theme. Practising teachers will ing for Clil and the meaningful management, using L1 and Macmillan; system, which shows the
assessment, and these topics are find the chapters on task-based integration of interactive technolo- assessment. The book shows 978-1-7863-2991-2 commonest words in red. The
all represented. In her accessi- learning, drama, poetry and pic- gies. Mourão’s chapter goes so far how collaborative ways of many engaging topics include
ble and informative chapter, Kay ture books particularly helpful as to suggest that, contrary to gen- working can promote a positive The second edition of this adult power-napping – ‘MetroNaps’
Bentley asks, ‘What exactly is in this endeavour. Annamaria eral assumptions, ‘The younger the classroom atmosphere. It and young adult coursebook – and exchanging houses for
a Clil approach?’ and ‘What are Pinter’s chapter usefully explores child starting to learn an L2, the provides differentiated learning includes a useful 54-page black- holidays – ‘Houseswap’. Worth
the Clil-specific challenges sur- best practice in TBL task design, higher the importance of teacher activities and is packed with and-white workbook at the investigation.
rounding it?’ She contrasts ELT ensuring achievable tasks for qualifications.’ As ‘the younger
and Clil approaches to the same young learners. Janice Bland’s the better’ mantra is adopted by an Reviews by Pete Sharma for the Bournemouth English Book Centre: www.bebc.co.uk
topic before presenting a range of enjoyable chapter on poetry and increasing number of policy-mak-
Clil case-studies around Europe. nursery rhymes is packed with ers and parents, and the starting age
Euline Cutrim Schmid and Shona fun ideas. for learning English drops around
Whyte discuss the advantages It’s notable just how much the world (outlined by Shelagh
and challenges of employing new of the volume is dedicated Rixon in her presentation of the
technologies in the primary lan- to literature in primary lan- volume strikes a note of caution, Learn and Grow!
2011 British Council survey), this
guage classroom, based on the guage teaching. In the chapters
findings of an IWB-based video on poetry, oral storytelling, stressing the fundamental impor-
conferencing project between drama and picturebooks we are tance of the quality of that early Hujiang, China’s leading e-learning platform with over 110 million
schools in France and Germany. reminded that, as well as being provision as a prerequisite for users, is hiring online ESL teachers & instructors globally!
Carmen Becker’s chapter on vehicles for teaching gram- effective learning. n
assessment examines uptake of mar and lexis, stories have a Position: Online ESL Teacher/Instructor
the European language portfolio significant role to play in devel- Emily Hird is an ELT Feature: Part-time, home based
as a means for learners to record oping empathy and sociocultural primary author and freelance Area: ELT of general English, business English, IELTS, TOEFL
their formal and informal learning awareness, as well as being a publishing consultant, UK. Pay: £8–50 / hour depending on the experience
and qualifications
achievements and experiences. means through which young Twitter: @eahird Apply: teach@hujiang.com

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News and Features Editor andrea@elgazette.com on weekdays. (Beijing time)
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Administration Subscriptions About the company
Shirley Porter shirley@elgazette.com Webscribe subs@webscribe.co.uk Hujiang is a professional e-learning platform, which provides users with products and services of
+44 (0) 20 3735 9674 +44 (0) 1442 879097 convenience and excellence. It has evolved into a leading service system which consists four parts:
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The publisher does not assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.
@ Copyright UK and abroad of all editorial content is held by EL Gazette New Media Ltd. education ecosystem with a winning formula for all. At the same time, we work with traditional schools
Reproduction, in whole or in part, is forbidden save with express permission of the copyright holder. to narrow the gap and promote education equity, bringing high-quality educational resources to every
corner of the world through internet. Hujiang is cooperating with more than 500 schools and
institutions including McGraw-Hill Education, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press,
An idea that makes and MOOC and so on. We produce more than 20,000 public courses and lectures.
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It was born to accomplish a mission.
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