Language Teaching Methodology

Part 1 An empirical approach to language teaching methodology: defining "methodology"; research into language processing and production; the context and environment of learning; classrooms in action; exploring language classrooms; how to use this book. Part 2 Listening: bottom-up and top-down views of listening; identifying different types of listening; textual connectivity; listening purpose; what makes listening difficult?; listening texts and tasks; investigating listening comprehension. Part 3 Speaking in a second language: identifying different types of speaking; predictability and unpredictability; the concept of "genre"; the difficulty of speaking tasks; classroom interaction; stimulating oral interaction in the classroom; investigating speaking and oral interaction. Part 4 Reading - discourse perspective: bottom-up and top-down views on reading; scheme theory and reading; research into reading in a second language; reading and social context; types of reading text; the reading lesson; investigating reading comprehension. Part 5 Developing writing skills: differences between spoken and written language; writing as process and writing as product; the generic structure of texts; differences between skilled and unskilled writers; writing classrooms and materials; investigating writing development. Part 6 Mastering the sounds of the language: a contrastive approach to pronunciation; recent theory and research; pronunciation in practice; investigating pronunciation. Part 7 Vocabulary: the status of vacabulary in the curriculum; word lists and frequency counts; vocabulary and context; vocabulary development and second language acquisition; semantic networks and features; memory and vocabulary development; investigating the teaching and learning of vocabulary. Part 8 Focus on form - the role of grammar: the "traditional" language classroom; second language acquisition research and its influence on practice; grammatical consciousness-raising; pedagogic materials and techniques for teaching grammar; investigating the teaching and learning of grammar. Part 9 Focus on the learner - learning styles and strategies: research into learning styles and strategies; the "good" language learner; a learner-centred approach to language teaching; learning strategies in the classroom; investigating learning strategy preferences. Part 10 Focus on the teacher - classroom management and interaction: amount and type of teacher talk; teacher questions; feedback on learner performance; classroom management in action; investigating teacher talk. Part 11 Materials development; commercial materials; research on materials in use; materials and methods; materials design; materials adaptation; investigating materials. Part 12 Language teaching methods - a critical analysis: the psychological tradition; the humanistic tradition; the second language acquisition tradition; investigating methods.