7/29/2019 Subiectul 1 a b

1/2

Application of Language systems and the language skills in an imaginary situation

Imagine that you work in a language school. You have just received a new student from Korea

who wants to study English prior to entering a university in the U.S. The student takes the

placement test, which based on all grammar and vocabulary and mostly multiple choice. He

scores quite high; however, he does not speak very well and has difficulty understanding even

the simplest spoken language. Now, a language teacher is assigned to devise a balance of the

four skills and the four systems for her study program.

The model Korean student in this assignment is proficient in grammar and vocabulary but he

is facing problems in speaking skill and has difficulty understanding even the simplest spoken

language. As far as his need is concerned, he wants to get prepared for a university in the

U.S.

First of all, multiple choice questions are useful to check the concept of the learners. They areobjective and do not give any information about his competence with reference to productive

skills like writing or speaking. To prepare a plan for his teaching, I would like to specify the

following points. Certainly, they will be considered in syllabus and activities to be devised for

him.

I. He is proficient in the knowledge of grammatical rules and prima facie meaning of

the vocabulary so there is a little need to emphasize on grammar or vocabulary.

II. He is very weak in speaking skills, so speaking skills, types of speaking,

attitudes, accent, pronunciation, stress, intonation, body gesture will be the key components.

III. Since listening is an input skill and very import for speaking skill, it will also cover

the above speaking point as well as listening sub skills like listening for gist, specific

information, detail, functions, attitudes.

IV. As he is going to take admission in a university, his objective is to be good in

academic writing. The course content should focus on skills like note taking, note making,

writing essay and reports etc.

V. Reading is also very important part of his objectives. He is to be trained in sub

reading skills like skimming, scanning, reading for detail, deducing meaning from context etc.

Unfortunately the placement test does not give any information about his competence in other

skills except grammar and vocabulary. In this situation, I would like to adopt an integrated

course which will include listening, speaking, reading and writing with their sub skills and I will

connect all of them in such a way that may enable him making notes for assignment and

7/29/2019 Subiectul 1 a b

2/2

exams, interacting with students and teacher and understanding lectures, discussions and

participating in discussions, reading academic books and preparing notes form them

I will offer him extensive listening of authentic material with similar content he is going to face

in his university, carefully graded from simple to easy. It does not mean I teach him his major

in my institute itself. It means it will have ESP like similarity. During this I will train him in

above mentioned listening sub skills and will connect it will speaking skills. He will have

opportunity to participate discussions, pair chatting, debate, interview and presentation. It

will be carefully graded with the level of the student. We will offer him full training in reading

sub skills and ask him to make notes and generate articles on the basis of the given reading

material. According to my reasoning he has plain knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. I will

train him in in actual use of that acquired grammar and vocabulary knowledge for real time

communications like writing an assignment or exam applying them for oral communication. I

do not find any reason to teach grammar or vocabulary extensively but I feel the need to train

him in how to utilise them more proficiently. For example, we can teach him how to deduce

various meaning of a vocabulary from the context of a text while reading a book. Likewise, I

will approach him to be communicative in grammar. He must be aware how these rigid rules

of grammar may be used in different function /communication situations.

The above strategy is good but will fail if I will not include his particular habits of learning,

objectives and his interests. His feedback will also shape out my teaching plan. I am very

much sure that this will help this student to fulfil the requirement and being proficient in

English language and communication.