The current ELT Approaches

THE ANALYSIS OF A READING LESSON


INTRODUCTION

I chose a lesson from www.english-to-go.com. This website offers ESL lessons with fun, engaging, up-to-date resources based on Reuters® news articles. The reading text used in the lesson is taken from the Reuters® news article “An Eel Pet” dated January 7, 2003 (see Appendix 1-5). When noticing that the lesson is intended for elementary level, I assume it will be suitable for Year 8 students (second grade of Junior High School) in Indonesia. The skill focus is reading. However, at the end of the session, students should engage in a speaking activity using similar topic. I am going to analyse this lesson using current approaches in ELT listed below:
1. Genre-based approach to learning (Mauchlan 2005, Hammond, et al 1992)
2. Task-based approach to learning (Sanchez 2004)
3. Autonomous learning
4. Content-based approach to learning
5. Focus on form, focus on forms, and focus on meaning
6. Language-based theory of learning (Halliday 1993)
7. Problem-based learning


1. GENRE-BASED APPROACH TO LEARNING
This approach, which draws on the functional model of the language, was developed by Halliday (1978, 1994). Students are encouraged to analyze different text types available in daily life to develop the communicative competence. They are guided to identify that each text type has its own function, schematic structure, and grammatical pattern. The terminal objective of applying this approach is to that students are able to produce different kind of text types related to their needs.

The types of text include transactional conversations, interpersonal
conversations, short functional texts, monologs and essays of certain genres. Based on Well’s taxonomy (1987), the junior high school literacy level is the functional level. After graduating, students are expected to use English for survival purposes such as carrying transactional exchanges, reading for fun, or reading popular science for teenagers. Therefore the genres for this level will be procedure, descriptive, recount, narrative, and report.

ANALYSIS

The genre (text type) of the lesson is a news item taken from an authentic news (Reuters® news article “An Eel Pet” dated January 7, 2003). Based on Well’s taxonomy, news items is more appropriate for senior high school level. However, this news is very short so I think it is not too difficul for Year 8 students (not far beyond the ZPD). The social function is to inform readers about an unusual event. The text has a specific schematic structure (logical structure) :
· headline : Family Keeps Pet Eel in Bath -- for 33 Years
· summary of event : 1st sentence
· background event : what happened, to whom, in what circumstances
· sources : comments by participant, “He’s a part of our family,” said Hannelore Richer of Bochum in western Germany.
This text is using particular grammatical patterns: verbs of actions to retell story (Simple Past and Present Perfect).

According to Vygotsky (1978) teaching should provide systematic guidance and support to "scaffold" learners in achieving their potential level of performance. By the interaction and assistance from experienced others (teachers and peers), learners can finally achieve their potential by completing the task alone. Based on scaffolding, a teaching-learning cycle is proposed to teach genre. The cycle has five stages (Feez & Joyce 1998; Hyland 2004):
(a) Context building: experiencing and exploring the purpose, context and audience of the genre
# This lesson build up and extend vocabulary relevant to the topic. It can be seen in Activity A, B, and C
(b) Modelling: analyzing the genre to reveal structural patterns and linguistic features
# Students are guided to find the sequence of the event (activity D)
(c) Joint construction: guided, teacher-supported practice of genre;
# This is done through Activity C and D to explore the content of the text.
While in Post-Reading Activity A, students are guided to use the grammatical pattern used in the text.
(d) Independent construction monitored by the teacher
# In Post-Reading Activity B and C, students are working in groups.
(e) Comparing; linking what is learnt to other genres and contexts
# In Activity D, students use the vocabulary and grammatical pattern learnt in a conversation. They link what they learnt from the text to other genre (transactional exchanges). This enables learners to critique and exploit the linguistic possibilities of the genre (Macken-Horarik 2002).

2. TASK-BASED APPROACH TO LEARNING
Unlike in the past, teachers nowadays are required to design tasks or projects which are not aimed to reinforce one particular structure, function or vocabulary group but to exploit a wider range of language. In many cases, students may also be using a range of different communicative language skills such as in producing posters, brochures, pamphlets, oral presentations, radio plays, videos, websites or drama.
In task-based approach to learning, the tasks are central to the learning activity. Developed by N Prabhu (1987), this approach is based on the belief that students may learn more effectively when their minds are focused on the task, rather than on the language they use. Jane Willis presents A Framework for Task-Based Learning in a three stage process:
· Pre-task - Introduction to the topic and task.
· Task cycle – Task, planning and report
· Language focus - Analysis and practice.
Task-based learning can be very effective at Intermediate levels and beyond because the teacher does not introduce and 'present' language or interfere ('help') during the task cycle. The teacher is an observer during the task phase and becomes a language informant only during the 'language focus' stage.

ANALYSIS

The lesson is using the learning stages suggested by Willis :
· Pre-task - Introduction to the topic and task.
# Pre-reading activities which include Discussion, Vocabulary and Predicting are aimed to introduce the topic of the text and task. This is language input.
· Task cycle – Task, planning and report
# Reading activity helps student to pay attention on the content of the text.
· Language focus - Analysis and practice
# Post-reading activities are used as remedial task to check whether students are able to produce the grammatical pattern and vocabulary learnt in some tasks (crossword, paragraph writing, and conversation). It involves collaboration, natural context for language use, and solving problem.

3. AUTONOMOUS LEARNING
In this approach, teacher gradually reduces direction and support as the learner increases in maturity and confidence. Student should undergo the ‘experiential learning cycle’ through concrete experience, observation and reflection, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation in order to develop independence. They are encouraged to :
· Set their own learning aims
· Make choices over learning modes
· Plan and organise work
· Decide when best to work alone, work collaboratively and when to seek advice
· Learn through experience
· Identify and solve problems
· Think creatively
· Communicate effectively orally and in writing
· Assess their own progress in respect of their aims

ANALYSIS

This lesson encourages the students to engage in problem solving and collaboration . While students engage in Pre-reading activity, Reading activity, and Post-reading activity, the teacher’s guidance decreases. However, this lesson does not give students the opportunity to select their own text for the language input and for follow up activity. The text which is not interesting for teenagers may demotivate them to learn. Students are not given guidance on self-assesment. As a result, they have no idea how to set their own aims and how to achieve them.

4. CONTENT BASED INSTRUCTION IN LANGUAGE LEARNING
In this approach, the language is utilized as the medium for teaching subject matters, such as science, social studies, biology, or mathematics. CBI allows schools to combine the goals of language curriculum and the regular curriculum, making language learning the vehicle for strengthening the language skills as well as content knowledge (Echevarria, 2000). Mohan (1986) indicates that the goal of integration in CBI is both language and content learning. The benefits of learning language through subject content are evident in learners’ language and content acquisition. When the students are studying a content area of interest (i.e. tsunami, Gulf War, immigration, etc), they are more intrinsically motivated to learn both the content and the language simultaneously. The students are actually able to use their new language. Content Based Learning is most appropriate at intermediate and advanced proficiency levels.

Some examples of content based curricula:
· Immersion program
· Sheltered English programs
· Writing across the curriculum (where writing skills in secondary schools and universities are taught within subject-matter areas like biology, history, art, etc.)

ANALYSIS

This lesson is not content-based but language based. This lesson is for elementary level students to develop their language competence.

5. FOCUS ON FORM, FOCUS ON FORMS, FOCUS ON MEANING

FOCUS ON MEANING MEANING
· IDEATIONAL (getting the message across)
· TEXTUAL (making the message readily accessible)
· INTERPERSONAL (taking account of the receiver and presentation of self)

FOCUS ON FORM (ACCURACY)
1.A focus on one or two forms, specified by the teacher.
2.Learners’ language production is controlled by the teacher.
3.The success of the procedure is judged in terms of whether or not learners do
produce the target forms with an acceptable level of accuracy.

FOCUS ON FORMS
· Isolation or extraction of linguistic features from context or communicative activity

ANALYSIS

This lesson is focus on meaning. Its function of language is ideational as it puts forward information as to what ideas the author is trying to get across. A news item is used to convey the message of the text. This is called the textual metafunction. The news is an interpersonal metafunction as the writer is communicating to the reader.

6. LANGUAGE BASED THEORY

Michael Halliday’s theory (1980) works through three main stages:
·Learning language: semantic- lexicogrammatical-graphophonic
·Learning through language: the outside language (in consciousness), and the inside
language (the imagination).
·Learning about language: field, tenor and mode

ANALYSIS

The three stages of language based theory is applied in this lesson. Student learn the lexicogrammatical (structure), use the language to understand text and to interact with other students (conversation).

7. PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a model that enables students to work cooperatively by finding solutions to real world problems and learning by doing, searching and involving the solution activity. PBL prepares students to think critically and analytically, and to find and use appropriate learning resources in groups. They share their ideas, discuss their thoughts, write what they agreed, go through to develop solutions, learn to speak and write effectively. Also, students develop their vocabulary, grammar knowledge and social language usage by the help of this method. In short, they construct an understanding of language as it is used in real-world contexts.

ANALYSIS

Pre-reading activity, Reading activity and Post-reading activity i this lesson require students to work cooperatively to find solutions using the vocabulary and grammar knowledge learnt. However, the problems are not real world problems. The activities are textbook problem oriented.