ABSTRACT

 Improving Foreign Language Teaching provides teachers and teacher trainers with a research-based structure for the effective teaching and assessment of second languages. As well as outlining a model for teacher development, the book identifies and exemplifies eight key principles for effective language learning, which can be used to guide curriculum design and decisions about classroom pedagogy. Improving Foreign Language Teaching also presents practical activities, related materials, and guidance on how student progress can be monitored and recorded.

Based on the research of the authors and other international experts, together with the work of a consortium established by the authors and teachers in a range of secondary schools, the book focusses on the development of language skills and communicative competence. It also proposes an assessment system which better reflects how learners progress in language learning than current models.

Taking as its starting point the challenge of a curriculum in flux and complex pedagogical approaches, this book offers clear research-informed guidance for effective planning, teaching and learning. It will be essential reading for all those concerned with the improvement of language learning and teaching in the secondary classroom.

chapter Chapter 1|9 pages

The problem with ‘improving language learning’

chapter Chapter 2|21 pages

Oral interaction in the second language classroom

chapter Chapter 3|37 pages

Reading and listening

Developing knowledge and making the most of it

chapter Chapter 4|25 pages

Developing the learner through writing

Recursion and compromise

chapter Chapter 5|32 pages

A pedagogical assessment system

chapter Chapter 7|22 pages

The PDCinMFL project

chapter Chapter 8|16 pages

Putting the principles into practice

chapter Chapter 9|5 pages

By way of conclusion