68015 - English Language Lab 4 (D)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to equip students with practical and theoretical knowledge of the key methods and concepts linked to the use of storytelling in the primary classroom. Specific learning outcomes include: knowledge of a wide range of texts designed for native speakers (from picture books to traditional tales) suitable for the ESL primary classroom; - knowledge of the most effective narrative techniques for the ESL classroom; - ability to analyse the structures and main characteristics of oral texts, and to confidently select the most suitable texts for use in the primary classroom; - ability to produce original narrative material based on texts analysed during the course; - ability to autonomously design effective storytelling activities for the ESL classroom and produce relevant material; ability to design pre and post-stroytelling activities with the aim to help children consolidate newly acquired vocabulary and structures; awareness of the problems that might arise during a storytelling activity and confidence in handling them creatively; - knowledge of classroom language and literary language employed in the texts analysed during the course; ability to design a number of recreational activities with a view to evaluating the outcomes of the use of storytelling in the ESL classroom.

Course contents

EFL Storytelling methods and activities:

-Choosing picture books for the EFL primary classroom

-Oral performances of picture books

-How to design pre and post storytelling activities

-Working on classroom Language

Readings/Bibliography

Reading material will be presented during lessons and then published on Moodle.

Teaching methods

Lectures and supervised group work

Assessment methods

Written exam on related subjects at the end of the course. The exam will be partly lingusitic and partly methodological, on topics discussed during the workshop; the students will demonstrate — besides a good command of English at B2- level — to be able to work with storytelling activities, use materials, stories and tools, referring to discussions/techniques encountered in the workshop. Naturally, adequate grammar and lexical skill at almost B2 level are a prerequisite, independently from the course content. There is no salto di appello. The specific contents of the written test are: Word Formation (guess the correct form of words in context, given their base form, 20 points), Sentence Transformation (transform a text or a set of sentences, 20 points), Error correction (correct 'classic' students' errors, 20 points), Paraphrase (re-write sentences according to a given model, 20 points), Methodology (40 points), Class language (show you can cope with daily communication with children, 30 points).

You can see an exam facsimile here [http://www.gazzaro.it/b/SFP4_exam_facsimile.htm] .

The final mark will be IDONEO/NON IDONEO, but like for previous years students will receive an email with detailed results for each part in 30 out of 30 points. There is no need for students to accept the result on Almaesami.

In order to take the exam it is absolutely necessary for a student to have enrolled on Almaesami. It is not possible to take any exam without formal enrolment there. In case of problems with the enrolment process students MUST CONTACT THE UFFICIO DIDATTICO BEFORE THE ENROLMENT DEADLINE. Once the enrolment lists are closed, no student can be added.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations

Text analysis

Films and audio books, videos, flashcards, various storytelling and acting props the students may feel necessary to create.

Office hours

See the website of Licia Masoni