Academic literature on the topic 'Procedural(task-based) Syllabus'

The last two decades in applied linguistics—which roughly coincide with the evolution of the communicative approach in language teaching—have seen the development of a number of language teaching innovations, including the notional/functional syllabus, the process syllabus, the Natural Approach, the procedural syllabus, and task-based language teaching. All of these proposals have contributed in important ways to an understanding of theoretical issues related to designing innovative language syllabuses. But it is only rather recently that applied linguists have begun to investigate the problems associated with implementing these innovations.

Abstract This study examines learners’ perceptions of an approach for improving Chinese-as-a-Foreign-Language learners’ language proficiency, especially their speaking ability. Built upon the Distributed Design Model, a wiki-enhanced, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach was designed at the syllabus level, taking into consideration various learning contexts. The approach was implemented and evaluated. Findings show that the overall design of this approach and most of the different components of the pre-task, core-task (interviews with native speakers, wiki-writing, and in-class presentations), and post-task activities were very positively perceived by the students. All students liked this design and enjoyed the class. The main reasons include (1) Students valued the opportunity to interact with native speakers outside the classroom; (2) The in-class presentations gave them an opportunity to express their personalities; (3) They liked the fact that the wiki-essay writing was connected to the in-class presentation because this helped them prepare the content of their presentation, also enabled them to develop writing and speaking on a single topic so they could become more advanced in that topic; (4) They also liked the consistency in organization and the eight units being procedurally similar. The learners held varying views on a few components of the pre-task and post-task activities.

Although the call for a more learner-centered pedagogy has long existed in English language teaching, viewpoints are still very controversial on what type of materials should be used in language classrooms. This paper is aimed at defining and addressing the ambiguities surrounding the concept of text authenticity and its relationship with language learner motivation and communicative competence in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT). However, wherever possible, for the purpose of maintaining criticality, data associated with pedagogic materials are also discussed. The study is based upon the theoretical strategy of research represented in a critical review of a number of research studies aimed at defining the concept of text authenticity and investigating the effects of authentic materials on language learners’ individual differences, namely learner motivation and communicative competence. The findings obtained from the literature review revealed that aspects of text authenticity may be situated in the text itself, the participants, social or cultural situations and purposes of the communicative act, or some combination of these elements. Equally important, the study concluded that a lack in language learners’ motivation and deficiency in their overall communicative competence in the English language can be attributed to teachers’ exclusive reliance on contrived text materials in a typical form of textbooks. The study recommends that teacher training courses should be aimed to develop language teachers’ practical knowledge and skills necessary for evaluating and designing TESOL materials. In addition, to introduce authentic materials into language classrooms, syllabus writers and classroom teachers need to take into consideration this methodological framework consisting of three sequential procedures: 1) conducting a careful analysis of learners’ needs in context, 2) selecting authentic texts in light of learners’ needs already analyzed in context, 3) basing teaching on the Task-Based Learning (TBL) approach that stresses the importance of activating learner schemata, awareness-raising activities and task differentiation. This triangulation methodology is likely to contribute to reducing the difficulty of text authenticity and realizing comprehensible input.

La evaluación ha dejado de ser una instancia que solo certifica el logro alcanzado a través de una calificación, sino que actualmente se entiende como un elemento fundamental para favorecer los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje. El objetivo del presente estudio es: Identificar las capacidades cognitivas, los elementos del programa de asignatura y los procedimientos e instrumentos de evaluación empleados durante la Formación Inicial de profesores de Educación Física (FIPEF) en tres campus universitarios del sur de Chile a partir de la percepción de los estudiantes y académicos. Bajo un enfoque cuantitativo y un diseño de estudio de casos de tipo descriptivo y comparativo de corte transversal, se aplica el “Cuestionario para el estudio del sistema de evaluación en la formación inicial del profesorado de educación física”. La muestra la conforman 162 estudiantes que cursan FIPEF y 44 profesores. Los principales resultados dejan ver una marcada presencia de metodologías e instrumentos tradicionales de evaluación, así como, una apreciación diferenciada entre alumnado vs. profesorado; por ejemplo, cuando el profesorado indica enfocar sus metodologías evaluativas a capacidades cognitivas como la “aplicación y comprensión”, el alumnado tiene una apreciación significativamente diferente. A modo de conclusión, se advierte la presencia de intencionalidad formativa en la entrega de información sobre los aprendizajes a través de los sistemas de evaluación, con la tarea de avanzar a una planificación didáctica, donde la evaluación sea coherente con las metodologías que se despliegan en el aula. Abstract. Assessment has ceased to be an instance that only certifies the achievement reached through a qualification, but is currently understood as a fundamental element to favour the teaching-learning processes. The aim of this study is: To identify the cognitive abilities, the elements of the subject syllabus and the assessment procedures and instruments used during the Initial Physical Education Teacher Training at three university campuses in the south of Chile, based on the perception of students and university professors. Under a quantitative approach and a descriptive and comparative cross-sectional case study design, the "Questionnaire for the study the assessment system in training of pre-service physical education teachers" was applied. The sample consisted of 162 pre-service teachers and 44 university professors. The main results show a marked presence of traditional assessment methodologies and instruments, as well as a differentiated appreciation between pre-services teachers vs. university professors; for example, when professors indicate that they focus their assessment methodologies on cognitive skills such as "application and understanding", students have a significantly different appreciation. In conclusion, we note the presence of formative intentionality in the delivery of information on learning through assessment systems, with the task of moving towards didactic planning, where assessment is coherent with the methodologies that are deployed in the classroom.