BLOQUE I Flashcards
Why is an integrated approach to teaching the four core language skills important?
An integrated approach provides a holistic understanding of the language, increases motivation, and improves retention. It focuses on what learners can do with the language, making it particularly effective in EFL education (Brown, 2000).
Why are oral communication skills emphasized in the early stages of language learning?
Oral communication skills, such as speaking and listening, are essential because they are foundational for effective communication. They prepare students for real-life interactions, as both skills are interdependent and contribute to overall language proficiency.
What role does oral communication play in the ESL Primary Education curriculum?
Oral communication is crucial in the ESL curriculum as it helps students develop communicative competence, confidence, and foundational skills for reading, writing, and overall language abilities. It aligns with national and regional frameworks, such as Andalusian legislation (Decree 101/2023), and supports Specific Competence 1 (Order May 30, 2023).
How does Vygotsky’s theory relate to the importance of oral language in learning?
Vygotsky (1978) highlights that language development is closely tied to social interaction. Oral communication allows students to actively participate in constructing knowledge, aligning with educational goals and promoting both academic and personal growth.
What are the key features of oral communication that differentiate it from written communication?
• Oral communication is interactive and produced in real time, often resulting in imperfections.
• Key features include expressive possibilities (tone and speed), gestures, simpler sentence constructions, pauses and repetitions, and occasional errors.
• Unlike written texts, oral language relies on spontaneity, intonation, and fillers like “um” and “er.”
How can teachers design effective oral communication activities?
Teachers should ensure activities involve a clear message, a communicative purpose, and language appropriate to the context. For instance, an information gap activity motivates students to exchange personal information, fostering authenticity and engagement.
Why is oral language considered crucial in early childhood education?
Oral language is the primary means for children to express, evaluate, and control their experiences. It helps them connect with the world, shape their cultural identity, and facilitates thinking, knowledge sharing, and effective communication (Cregan, 1998).
What challenges do teachers face in implementing oral language instruction?
Teachers often struggle due to unclear frameworks and a lack of structured guidelines for integrating oral language instruction effectively.
What are some pedagogical implications of oral language in foreign language teaching (FLT)?
• Oral language is naturally acquired before writing.
• Contextual support (e.g., facial expressions and intonation) aids understanding.
• Errors are normal due to the spontaneity of oral communication.
• Repetitions, pauses, and paraphrasing make oral messages less dense than written ones.
• Grammatical structures in oral language are simpler.
• Listening tasks require repeated exposure to ensure understanding.
Why is it important to integrate speaking and listening skills in language lessons?
Speaking and listening are interdependent in oral communication. In conversations, roles alternate dynamically, requiring both skills. Integration helps students practice authentic communication and improves fluency and comprehension.
How can teachers promote the integration of speaking and listening skills?
Teachers can use pair and group work to create opportunities for real communication. Activities that require students to both speak and listen in authentic contexts help develop these interdependent skills effectively.
