Important aspects to be taken into account

Important aspects to be taken into account to teach English in the public schools in Ecuador

Important Issues  The nature of teaching →

methods, teaching skills, strategies, techniques.  The role of the teacher  Classroom Management → lesson planning, grouping, classroom dynamics, graphic organizers.  Teaching the skills → Reading, Speaking, Listening, Writing.

Important Issues  Addressing Linguistic Competence → Grammar, Vocabulary and Pronunciation.  Curriculum Factors → Syllabus design, materials development.  Assessment of Learning → tests and exams  The role of technology → Media, Internet  Global Issues

Teaching English in a Globalized World UNASUR meeting takes place in Bariloche The communication between Cuenca and Loja is better

Militar Bases in Colombia

Quito is getting cleaner Imbabura’s holiday is My coming LOCAL neighborhood El nuevo aeropuerto recibe dos premios Discrimination against women in Afghanistan The new airport receives 2

REGIONAL NATIONAL

prizes

Ecuador celebrates its Independence Bicentenary

Miss Universe is from Venezuela AH1N1

INTERNATIONAL

Students 15‐20 YEARS AGO

 Less access to electronic

devices  Less possibilities to travel abroad  Traditional families  Followed established rules more easily  Respect for the elderly  Valued parent’s authority  Traditional schools  Restricted information from the media

2009

 Major access to

information technology  More opportunities to travel abroad  Different family organization  Against establishment  Question the elderly  Question parent’s authority  School innovation  Widespread information

Teachers 15‐20 YEARS AGO

 Less access to electronic

2009

 Major access to

information technology devices  Less possibilities to travel  More opportunities to travel abroad abroad  Different family  Traditional families organization  Less questioning students  Students who question authority  Less economic pressure  Increased economic  Restricted information pressure (teachers work in from the media more than one place)  Less access to professional  Innovation in schools development opportunities  Widespread information

 Knowledge society.‐ A society where individuals take in information and

then through the process of constructivism in education transform it into knowledge. This knowledge can be used in new situations to make connections and therefore to make meaning , solve problems and make decisions.  Information Society.‐ Sometimes this term is used interchangeably with

that of knowledge society , but such a term is misleading because information is more related to facts and figures.  University of life.‐ Refers to the fact that nowadays , students for instance

have access to a huge amount of information and they generally know how to get at it without much help from us . It is said that a lot of knowledge is acquired in the University of life rather than in the classroom.

Curriculum needs for students and teachers

Teaching and training methodology Communication for real life

English teachers must

the four skills

with

of

interrelate the teaching

the new dimensions of terms

such as

Metacognition Input Output

Teaching and training content Attitudes

Global issues

Critical thinking

The new language itself Values

Teachers´and trainers´attitudes Monitor

Good Role Models

Guide

are

not any longer the owners of truth and our word is not the last word

need

to guide our students and trainers to transform information in knowledge and recognize that the students should be the center of the educational act

WE

Our classes should reflect more democracy and less authoritarism

Teaching Techniques Induction

Deduction

Discussing

FOR THE USE OF

Role play Pair and group work

Analyzing

TO USE

Create opportunities

FOR

Making inferences Criticizing

Information gap activities

Encouragement of creativity and self‐reflection

Global Issues Culture

Democracy

Racism

Gender

Literacy

Values

Environment

Iliteracy

Politics

All these issues are opportunities to develop critical thinking and in our case to do so though English (which is the global language) means a significant advance and challenge.

How to become a global English teacher Take baby steps before giant strides See the world through eyes other than yours Keep a record of your developing awareness Start with yourself and examine your beliefs, aspirations,capabilities,situation and context.

Work on the student self before the bigger issue of the group , the community, the city the country and the world.

Read , read, read…….!

Ask students what they want to talk and learn about

Collect poems, short stories, quotations songs, music, which will help you to touch the matter

Become informed. Watch the news, buy magazines, read an English language daily paper.

Look at local issues in relation to the global ones. Don’t expect students to immediately see the point.

 THANK YOU SO MUCH  CONTACT INFORMATION: rociolic@yahoo.es