Communication in the Language Classroom

A book about classroom interaction and how to teach communication skills to language students.

Tony Lynch

Surveys the findings of recent research into classroom interaction involving language learners
Discusses the implications of this research for designing classroom communication tasks
Offers practical suggestions for applying the ideas in the book to the classroom
Supports explanations with transcripts of recordings of real language classes made by the author over a twelve-year period
Suitable for trainee teachers on Diploma/Master's courses, as well as new and experienced practising ELT/ESL teachers.

Communication in the Language Classroom

A book about classroom interaction and how to teach communication skills to language students.

Tony Lynch

Description

Tony Lynch looks at how learners interact in the classroom, and offers guidance to teachers on how to make lessons more effective by giving learners better opportunities for interaction and communication. Using illustrative transcripts, he offers insights from research into the nature of real-life interaction, and practical guidance on designing communicative tasks in all four skills.

Communication in the Language Classroom

A book about classroom interaction and how to teach communication skills to language students.

Tony Lynch

Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART ONE: Input, interaction, and negotiation
1:Communicating inside and outside the classroom
Introduction
'Teacher Talk'
- Activity: Giving explanations
'Learner talk'
Terms for 'negotiation'
Comprehension
- Complexity of comprehension
- Comprehension and foreign language development
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
2:Simplicity and accessibility
- Activity: Beyond the text
Comprehension resources
Non-linguistic simplification
- Context
- Background knowledge
- Activity
Simple = accessible?
Simplifying texts
Explanation
Accessible versus noticeable
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
3:Teacher Talk
- Activity: The hat seller
Input modifications
Interaction modifications
- Activity
Modifications of information choice
- Descriptive detail
Logical links
Assumed socio-cultural gaps
Implications for classroom practice
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
4:Modification research: findings and implications
Problems of measurement
- Activity: What do students understand?
Effects on comprehension
- Input modifications
- Interaction modifications
Modifications of information choice
Effects on learning
- Implications for classroom practice
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
PART TWO: Classroom applications - interaction-based teaching
Introduction
5:Teaching listening
- Activity: Spoken language
Problem-solving strategies
- Paused listening tasks
Types of listening
Grading
- Interaction-based grading
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
6:Teaching speaking
- Activity: Questions in class
Teacher-learner interaction
Learner-learner interaction
Setting up negotiation tasks
- Introducing negotiation
- Grouping
- Distributing the information
Feedback
- Teacher-learner feedback
- Learner-learner feedback
- Combining learner and teacher feedback
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
7:Teaching reading
- Activity: A difficult text
Choice of texts: authenticity
Interaction with texts
- Think-aloud interpretation
- Reciprocal teaching
- Modifying a text
Interaction about texts
- Question-setting
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
8:Teaching writing
Writing as interaction
- Decomposition
Classroom writing: the role of the reader
Classroom writing: the role of the teacher
- Activity: A writing lesson
Feedback during writing
- Learner-initiated feedback
Feedback after writing
- Clarification requests
Summary
- Suggestions for further reading
9:Postscript
Four reasons for not changing anything
'We don't have the resources'
'Our classes are too large for interaction'
'Our students don't expect to be taught that way'
'We haven't been trained to teach like this'

Glossary
Bibliography
Index