A group of 16 upper-intermediate level 19 year olds from several European and Japanese universities is currently studying on an exchange programme at a British university. They need to improve their reading skills as they tend to tunnel-read and to look up unknown words in the dictionary too often when faced with long, challenging texts. They are very fluent in informal speaking but need to develop more formal group discussion skills. They have expressed a desire to learn more idiomatic expressions.
Table of Contents
Lesson Plan
Learning outcomes
Skills aim
Language Focus aims
Context/Topic
Professional development aims
The language learners
Rationale
Materials
Predicted Problems
Stages Plan
Activity Sheet
Answer Sheet
5. In this discussion, there are several solutions possible. However, in the following, I will present two possible examples to demonstrate my expectation of the students.
6. Short argumentative essay about three benefits of having a part-time job
The Reflective Paragraph
Reading Text
Additional Sheet
Objectives & Topics
The primary objective of this assignment is to design a comprehensive lesson plan centered on an authentic English newspaper article for upper-intermediate business students, aiming to enhance their reading sub-skills and formal discussion abilities.
- Development of skimming and scanning reading strategies.
- Improvement of formal speaking skills and argumentation through group discussions.
- Integration of professional lexis and idiomatic expressions.
- Application of collaborative learning techniques in a classroom setting.
- Reflective analysis of pedagogical design and classroom management.
Excerpt from the Book
Rationale
The topic of having a job comes up regularly in students‘ life at a business school. Therefore, it has been estimated that the topic will catch their attention and interest. The lexis of job will extend their background knowledge and it will be useful to their further studies. They will learn to apply and differentiate between two kinds of reading an article, skimming and intensively reading. These reading processes will also be very useful in their further studies. The formal group discussion by applying useful phrases is constructive to their text comprehension and it practices their formal speaking skills as requested by the students. The chosen text will give students experience of an authentic style of writing and hopefully encourage and motivate them to have a Saturday job due to its benefits in vocational world.
Summary of Chapters
Lesson Plan: Outlines the learning outcomes, main skills, and language focus areas for the proposed English seminar.
Context/Topic: Describes the source material used, focusing on a newspaper article regarding the decline of teenage Saturday jobs.
Professional development aims: Lists pedagogical goals for the instructor, including time management and classroom interaction.
The language learners: Provides a profile of the target audience, specifically upper-intermediate business students on an exchange programme.
Rationale: Justifies the choice of topic and methodology, emphasizing the relevance of the material to the students' vocational interests.
Materials: Lists the resources required for the lesson, including links to the authentic article and supplementary sheets.
Predicted Problems: Identifies potential classroom challenges such as timing issues or inappropriate task difficulty.
Stages Plan: Details the chronological breakdown of the lesson, including teacher/student activities and specific stage aims.
Activity Sheet: Contains the exercises provided to students, ranging from brainstorming to text analysis.
Answer Sheet: Provides the key for the reading comprehension and vocabulary tasks.
5. In this discussion, there are several solutions possible. However, in the following, I will present two possible examples to demonstrate my expectation of the students.: Presents model responses for the group discussion exercise, highlighting useful phrases.
6. Short argumentative essay about three benefits of having a part-time job: An example essay written to demonstrate the expected standard for the homework assignment.
The Reflective Paragraph: An evaluation of the lesson planning process, reflecting on challenges faced and future pedagogical considerations.
Reading Text: The original authentic newspaper article used for the reading tasks.
Additional Sheet: A collection of formal meeting phrases provided to support the students' discussion activities.
Keywords
Lesson Plan, English Methodology, Authentic Reading, Skimming, Scanning, Business English, Formal Discussion, Job Lexis, Teenage Employment, Teaching Pedagogy, Argumentative Essay, Classroom Interaction, Language Learning, Vocational Education, Collaborative Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this assignment?
This work focuses on the creation of a structured lesson plan for teaching English as a foreign language to upper-intermediate business students, using authentic materials.
Which specific language skills are addressed?
The lesson covers reading sub-skills like skimming and scanning, as well as formal speaking, group discussion, and argumentative writing.
What is the primary pedagogical goal?
The main goal is to bridge the gap between classroom exercises and real-world application by teaching students how to effectively comprehend authentic English texts and express professional opinions.
What teaching methods are employed in this lesson?
The lesson utilizes collaborative learning, brainstorming, structured scanning and skimming tasks, and a panel-show simulation to encourage formal interaction.
What content is covered in the main section of the plan?
The main section includes a detailed stages plan, student activity sheets, answer keys, and model examples for student discussions and essay writing.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Lesson Plan, English Methodology, Authentic Reading, Business English, Formal Discussion, and Pedagogical Design.
Why was the topic of "Saturday jobs" chosen for this lesson?
The topic was chosen because it is highly relevant to students at a business school, thereby ensuring high engagement and connecting language learning to vocational interests.
How does the author evaluate the lesson design process?
In the reflective paragraph, the author identifies the design process as challenging but beneficial, noting the difficulty in differentiating sub-skills and the importance of testing the plan with real students.
- Quote paper
- Bahar Ilk (Author), 2015, Improving English Reading Skills, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/318428
