Teaching English.

Challenges
and Ways Ahead
Titela Vilceanu

University of Craiova
Setting the scene
Shaping your teaching

 The status of English. Language variation.

Shaping your teaching

• Learners’ motivation
• Opportunities for using English
• Learning styles
Shaping your teaching
Time Frame
Early 1900s and 1940s and 1950s
1960s, 1970s, and 1980s
1980s, 1990s, and 2000s
Language teaching perspectives (adapted from Brown, 2007:15)
Schools of Thought Typical Themes. Description
Structural Linguistics and Observable performance; Scientific
Behavioural Psychology method; Empiricism; Surface
structure
Conditioning; Reinforcement
Generative Linguistics and Generative linguistics; Acquisition,
Cognitive Psychology innateness; Interlanguage;
Systematicity
Universal grammar; Competence;
Deep structure
Constructivism Interactive discourse;
Interactionism Sociocultural variables;
Cooperative learning; Discovery
learning; Construction of meaning;
Interlanguage variability
Shaping your teaching
Shaping your teaching
From instinct-driven to focused-readiness
teaching

There are many challenges to cope with.

Apart from the individuality of teachers, we mentioned above the individuality of learners.

Another issue is the extent to which form and meaning should be separated.
Selected bibliography
Farrell, T. S.C., Jacobs, G.M. 2010. Essentials for Successful Language Teaching. New
York: Continuum.
Griffiths, C.2008. Lessons from Good Language Learners. Cambridge: CUP.

Dictionaries
Byram, M. 2000. Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning. London:Routledge.
Hornberger, N. (ed.) 2008 (2nd ed.). Encyclopedia of Language and Education. Springer
Science-Business Media, LLC.
Richards, J.C., Smith, R. 2002 (3rd ed.). Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and
Applied Linguistics. London: Longman.