A suggested lesson format features two phases. In the initial phase, students arrange themselves into groups of three or four. Pairs offer less chance for brainstorming and discussing ideas and groups of more than four allow less proficient students to contribute less while sharing a group's score achieved by more proficient students. The teacher distributes a single, group answers are recorded. A completed answer sheet will simply feature multiple choice answers and isolated vocabulary item without context.
The teacher then explains the nature of the group activity , which might focus on one of these topic: vocabulary , word forms , grammar ,subject/object agreement, repeat word meanings, use of apostrophes and so on . Student are told the number of questions and the time allocated to discuss and answer these. One worksheet large font is then distributed to each group for discussion. Practice of any of the mentioned topic can, for example include 10 sentences with 10 minutes allocated. This is ample time to complete such an activity compared with that allowed for an actual TOEIC test. Nevertheless, the point is that through repeated practice, students become aware of the importance of timing in formal testing. If a group completes their answer quickly, the teacher, whose role in this phase is one of supervisor, can check and give feedback on the number of errors or specific advice.
At the end of the time allocated, the teacher collects the paper with questions for the first activity so that the attention of learners remains focused as a group on each separate activity. The teacher explains the nature of the next activity as well as the time allowed. Then the worksheet with the next activity is distributed and the process of discussion repeats until five or six activities have been completed. This first phase of the lesson takes approximately one hour.
The second phase of the lesson allows more focused (and therefore potentially more meaningful) explanations as the teacher takes on the active role to clarify and validate the student’s answer. First, all the answer for activities in the first phase are provided briefly and groups check their scores. These can then be recorded by the teacher for assessment purposes. Detailed reasons for the correct (and perhaps incorrect) answers can then be explained. Students record the answers on worksheets with complete sentences, the same as those distributed for discussion, so that the correct answers have a clear context. This serves to reinforce vocabulary and grammar key points, not only during a particular lesson, but also for the purpose of topic revision, actual TOEIC test preparation and end of term examination.
Timed group work in an ESP lesson is not particularly unusual, nor failsafe. However, successive semesters using the approach of group TOEIC style activities have consistently featured the following perceived advantages. Learners focus on key points peer to peer. They negotiate meaning and communicate with an informality the promotes learning on their terms. Three or four minds actively contribute ideas as opposed to a classroom of silent individuals who may or may not understand a teacher’s explanation. These factors contribute to learner motivation and a focus on thinking processes for the tasks at hand rather than on overall test scores.
It is true that lack of motivation can be a disadvantage and that for some students various reasons inhibit their active participation in group activities. Certain test taking strategies can be taught with group activities related particularly to TOEIC test reading part V, where there is a focus on linguistic structures as opposed to meaning. This focus-on-forms methodology, based on a structural syllabus, is discussed by Long (1991) and in a TOEIC context by Williams (2005). A potential weakness is that students will focus on meaning rather then structure.
A suggested lesson format features two phases. In the initial phase, students arrange themselves into groups of three or four. Pairs offer less chance for brainstorming and discussing ideas and groups of more than four allow less proficient students to contribute less while sharing a group's score achieved by more proficient students. The teacher distributes a single, group answers are recorded. A completed answer sheet will simply feature multiple choice answers and isolated vocabulary item without context.
The teacher then explains the nature of the group activity , which might focus on one of these topic: vocabulary , word forms , grammar ,subject/object agreement, repeat word meanings, use of apostrophes and so on . Student are told the number of questions and the time allocated to discuss and answer these. One worksheet large font is then distributed to each group for discussion. Practice of any of the mentioned topic can, for example include 10 sentences with 10 minutes allocated. This is ample time to complete such an activity compared with that allowed for an actual TOEIC test. Nevertheless, the point is that through repeated practice, students become aware of the importance of timing in formal testing. If a group completes their answer quickly, the teacher, whose role in this phase is one of supervisor, can check and give feedback on the number of errors or specific advice.
At the end of the time allocated, the teacher collects the paper with questions for the first activity so that the attention of learners remains focused as a group on each separate activity. The teacher explains the nature of the next activity as well as the time allowed. Then the worksheet with the next activity is distributed and the process of discussion repeats until five or six activities have been completed. This first phase of the lesson takes approximately one hour.
The second phase of the lesson allows more focused (and therefore potentially more meaningful) explanations as the teacher takes on the active role to clarify and validate the student’s answer. First, all the answer for activities in the first phase are provided briefly and groups check their scores. These can then be recorded by the teacher for assessment purposes. Detailed reasons for the correct (and perhaps incorrect) answers can then be explained. Students record the answers on worksheets with complete sentences, the same as those distributed for discussion, so that the correct answers have a clear context. This serves to reinforce vocabulary and grammar key points, not only during a particular lesson, but also for the purpose of topic revision, actual TOEIC test preparation and end of term examination.
Timed group work in an ESP lesson is not particularly unusual, nor failsafe. However, successive semesters using the approach of group TOEIC style activities have consistently featured the following perceived advantages. Learners focus on key points peer to peer. They negotiate meaning and communicate with an informality the promotes learning on their terms. Three or four minds actively contribute ideas as opposed to a classroom of silent individuals who may or may not understand a teacher’s explanation. These factors contribute to learner motivation and a focus on thinking processes for the tasks at hand rather than on overall test scores.
It is true that lack of motivation can be a disadvantage and that for some students various reasons inhibit their active participation in group activities. Certain test taking strategies can be taught with group activities related particularly to TOEIC test reading part V, where there is a focus on linguistic structures as opposed to meaning. This focus-on-forms methodology, based on a structural syllabus, is discussed by Long (1991) and in a TOEIC context by Williams (2005). A potential weakness is that students will focus on meaning rather then structure.
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