Free English Language Dissertations - Confusion May Arise, However Students Are On A Steep Learning Curve And Are
Confusion may arise, however students are on a steep learning curve and are quickly requested to manipulate complex language frameworks, e.g. in Unit 8 the zero, first, second and third conditionals are all introduced simultaneously in the testing stage!
Alan Cunningsworth explains this problem in reference to functional-based study programmes that often appear to be very steeply graded so far as grammatical items are concerned, adding that students meeting the structures for the first time would probably have difficulty in coping with the variety with such a limited time-scale. Despite its essentially structural approach, New Headway has also fallen into this trap.
To compensate for the limitations inherent in its linear presentation of grammar and the difficulties involved in its functional method, language structures are revisited and knowledge is consolidated via the Workbook and through the Stop and Check Tests that appear every three units. Additionally, the authentic materials used give students the opportunity of viewing the grammar again within new and natural contexts, broadening their understanding. This cyclical approach is more conducive to teaching communication skills much information is taught, but is also reconsidered in various contexts, which keeps it fresh in the students’ minds and provides a more global comprehension. So, although Unit1 presents the students/teacher with a rather daunting task of using the present simple and continuous, present perfect simple and continuous and past simple, All of them are revisited in later units and examined in greater depth to provide extensive discriminatory practice.
Treatment of the skills
When we teach any (grammar) structure we are getting students to learn quite a large number of different, though related, bits of knowledge and skills: how to recognize the examples of the structure when spoken, how to identify its written form, how to produce both its spoken and written form, how to understand its meaning in context, and produce meaningful sentences using it themselves. A course book should not only represent the flexibility of the English language by presenting it in different situations, it must also show how language can be used in both productive (speaking and writing) and receptive (listening and reading) skills.
New Headway is unequivocal in its desire to encourage the development of strong oral/aural communication skills within an active classroom, including up to nine different listening examples per unit, reading comprehensions, grammar writing exercises and discussion opportunities.
Dissertations - Free English Language Dissertations
