Kobe JALT:

Using Whole Discourse Tasks for Language Teaching

Date: Saturday, January 21st, 2006 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Speaker: Deryn Verity, Osaka Jogakuin College

Description:
The word 'context' is used everywhere in the field of language teaching and learning, but what does it really mean? Whole Discourse Tasks require a learner to operate within several types of context at once; even low-proficiency learners can be helped to create contexts for their utterances. This seminar will introduce 3 different ways of looking at the importance of context in language teaching: discourse context, social context and psycholinguistic context. The focus will be on tasks that ask students to move beyond the word and sentence level of structure into levels of discourse, social setting and pragmatic function. Some practical examples of such tasks will be introduced, and seminar participants will be asked to create the outline of a whole discourse task as well. A very basic introduction to the Vygotskyan-oriented theory of language acquisition will be provided as a basis for the discussion of the importance of context in language use.

Organization: Kobe Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Kobe JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1000 yen

Venue: Kobe YMCA (2-7-15 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe. tel: 078-241-7204)

Location: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

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