Focus on the Learner Essay Example for Free

Focus on the Learner Essay1.Group ProfileIts a obscure group with a very mixed cultural background as only three students are actually from Germany. Four of the students were born in other country e.g. Lithuania, Turkey, France and Romania. They all moved to Germany as adults and all share German as a common speech communication.The group is heterogeneous concerning the age they started directing side. 2 students started learning as adults while the others started learning at school. Most of the students pitch learnt another language as an adult and therefore have previous language learning experience. The motivation for doing the course is quite high and the group open fire be divided into two groups students who need English for their job/university and students who want to learn for their hold enjoyment. They are all at upper intermediate level.Except for one student (who could be classed as a converger), the overall group could be classed as concrete learners. They enjoy the social aspects of learning and like to learn from direct experience. They are interest in the language and they enjoy games and group-work in class. The stainless group could as well be classed as communicative learners because they show a degree of confidence and a willingness to take risks. They are much more interested in social interaction with other speakers of the language than they are with analysis of how the language works. (Learning styles based on Keith Willing 1987).2.Strengths and weaknessesGrammarThe students are weak when forming the personate frank (especially 3rd person singular) (e.g. I must to take the train, She like climbing, Stephen come from Australia) very often confusing it with the present continuous. ( roundtimes Im reading Turkish books). Most students also have problems when using the honest past (we seed its ill, I gone to school with her, We can found this in a school, Where are you born?, She were ).Some students also have problems wi th verb-noun collocations (e.g. She make all the housework)VocabularyThe students have a good basic populateledge of vocabulary. They can talk about themselves, where they come from, their profession, their families, experiences they have had in the past and things they like to spend more money on. (Example of good language My picture is a technical object but I really dont know what it is used for, Because you met the Pope, you changed your mind You said dug so it is dig, dug, dug = verb orientation).Many of the students try to translate directly from German into English (The cat was by us) and sometimes use a German word in a sentence, using it questioningly enabling other students to help out with the correct English word. The students respond very well, offering suggestions until correct answer is found.Most of the students focus on finding the exact translation of the unknown word rather than arduous to paraphrase their idea.PronunciationAll the students have a strong L1 int erference and speak with an accent.The group responds well to drilling the right pronunciation and where to put stress on the words. They are keen to sound natural and like repeating afterthe teacher.Some students pronounce the endings of words that arent necessary e.g. clothes, See instead of sea, Lus their jobs speech 2083.Strengths and weaknesses skillsReadingThe students are equal to(p) to read a text fairly quickly in order to understand the overall meaning. After enquiring about a a couple of(prenominal) words of vocabulary (sometimes looking this up themselves in a dictionary) they are able to answer all the questions quickly and correctly.ListeningThe students are able to listen to texts read to them and in most cases understand the general meaning already after the first time. After hearing the text for the second time, they are able to answer questions, in most cases correctly.The students react well to instructions and during conversation they wait patiently until thei r dialogue partner has finished.One student is a panicky listener, the others all seem to be relaxed listeners.WritingThe students have a wide range of vocabulary appropriate for the given tasks. Their sentences are well-structured and they make few mistakes.SpeakingThe students try to use structured sentences. If they are confident with the vocabulary hesitation is less frequent, with new vocabulary or grammar most students hesitate frequently. The students are motivated to improve their speaking ability and they make a great effort to only speak English.Some of them use gestures when they do not know a word, others switch between German and English, using the German word to demand in the gaps in the sentence (I go with the Straenbahn, I make Teig with Zimt and ).4.Recommendations talking to development1.Total English Workbook (Pre-intermediate)Antonia Clare/JJ Wilson Longman PublishersPage 8, Section 1.3Grammar Present Simple vs Present ContinuousJustificationAll 3 exercises on this summon help the students to strike off between the present simple and the present continuous. It also concerns activities they can associate with2.New Cutting Edge (Pre-intermediate Students Book)Sarah Cunningham/Peter fasten Pearson/Longman PublishersModule 4, scalawag 34Language Focus 1Present continuous and present simpleJustificationAt the top left of the scallywag there is a grammar exercise section where the students have to underline and give an example of the present simple/present continuous. Exercises 1 and 2 help to practice the use of them.3.Language to go Students Book (Pre-intermediate)Gillie Cunningham/Sue Mohamed Longman PublishersLesson 3, page 9 The Present (Grammar focus)JustificationExercises for the students to practice distinguishing between Present simple and Present continuous. First of all filling in the gaps, then writing their own email and finally using the language by talking in pairs4.Total English Students Book (Pre-intermediate)Richard A cklam/Araminta Crace Pearson/Longman PublishersChapter 1, page 14 Review and practiceJustificationExercises for practicing twain present simple and present continuous (including question-forming)5.Clockwise Pre-intermediate Class BookBruce McGowen Vic Richardson Oxford University PressChapter 25, page 65 Present simple and continuousJustificationStudents can fill in the tables with the verb and then complete the rules for using Present simple and continuous themselves in exercise 16.New Edition Basis for BusinessDavid Christie Cornelsen OxfordUnit 2, pages 24 and 25 Further subscribe (Simple present and present continuous)JustificationOn page 24 there is an explanation of when to use simple present and present continuous and on page 25 there are exercises to practice7.New Edition Basis for BusinessDavid Christie Cornelsen OxfordUnit 3, pages 37 and 38 Further study (Simple past and past continuous)JustificationOn page 37 there is an explanation of when to use simple past and past continuous and on page 38 there are exercises to practice8.Powerbase Pre-intermediateDavid Evans Longman PublishersUnit 4, pages 30 to 33 Going placesJustificationThe article on page 31 is quite interest for the students. On page 30 they can fill-in the verbs in the past and present form and on page 32 the past simple can be practiced in exercises.9.Business opportunitiesVicki Hollett Cornelsen OxfordUnit 5, Growth and development, pages 50 and 51 Past experiencesJustificationThe article on page 31 is quite raise for the students. On page 50 they can fill-in a time line. On page 51 there is an explanation on when to use the simple past, questions for the students to answer and addression exercise.Skills development10.Business opportunitiesVicki Hollett Cornelsen OxfordUnit 2, Telephoning to make arrangements, pages 23, 150 and 151Justification Students usually enjoy doing role play. In these exercises they work with a partner and discuss a) a conference programme and b) arranging a meeting.11.Business opportunitiesVicki Hollett Cornelsen OxfordUnit 7, Telephoning to exchange information, page 73Justification Students will probably find the stories on this page quite amusing. They will then discuss any car accidents or funny incidents that they have experienced themselves.References1.Total English Workbook (Pre-intermediate)Antonia Clare/JJ Wilson Longman Publishers2.New Cutting Edge (Pre-intermediate Students Book)Sarah Cunningham/Peter Moor Pearson/Longman Publishers3.Language to go Students Book (Pre-intermediate)Gillie Cunningham/Sue Mohamed Longman Publishers4.Total English Students Book (Pre-intermediate)Richard Acklam/Araminta Crace Pearson/Longman Publishers 5.Clockwise Pre-intermediate Class BookBruce McGowen Vic Richardson Oxford University Press6.New Edition Basis for BusinessDavid Christie Cornelsen Oxford7.Powerbase Pre-intermediateDavid Evans Longman Publishers8.Business opportunitiesVicki Hollett Cornelsen Oxford