CELTA - Teaching receptive skills 1

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to guide English language teachers on how to effectively teach receptive skills, specifically reading and listening. This is the first part of a five-part series that will enhance your teaching strategies and help you engage your students more effectively.

Step 1: Understand Receptive Skills

Receptive skills refer to how learners absorb language through listening and reading. To teach these skills effectively, consider the following:

• Identify the Goals: Determine what you want your students to achieve with the reading or listening task.
• Choose Appropriate Materials: Select texts or audio that are relevant and engaging for your students' level and interests.

Step 2: Set the Context

Before diving into a reading or listening activity, it's important to set the context to prepare your students. This can include:

• Pre-Teaching Vocabulary: Introduce key vocabulary that will appear in the text or audio.
• Discussing Themes: Engage students in a discussion about the topic to activate prior knowledge.

Step 3: Use Pre-Listening or Pre-Reading Activities

Implement activities that prime students for the main task. Consider these strategies:

• Prediction Exercises: Ask students to predict what they will hear or read based on titles or images.
• Brainstorming: Encourage students to brainstorm related words or phrases.

Step 4: Conduct the Main Activity

During the main activity, whether it’s reading a text or listening to audio, make sure to:

• Monitor Understanding: Walk around the classroom to check if students understand the material.
• Encourage Engagement: Ask questions that prompt critical thinking and discussion.

Step 5: Follow-Up Activities

After the main task, engage students in follow-up activities to consolidate their understanding. Use these methods:

• Comprehension Questions: Pose questions to check understanding and encourage discussion.
• Pair Work: Have students share their thoughts with a partner to deepen their comprehension.

Step 6: Reflection and Feedback

Encourage students to reflect on the activity to enhance their learning:

• Self-Assessment: Ask students to think about what they found easy or challenging.
• Provide Feedback: Give constructive feedback to help students improve their receptive skills.

Conclusion

Teaching receptive skills effectively involves understanding the goals of the lesson, setting the right context, and engaging students in meaningful activities. By following these steps, you can create a dynamic learning environment that enhances your students' listening and reading abilities. As you progress through the series, you will build on these foundational strategies to develop more advanced techniques.