April 2012 Philip Kerr

Philip Kerr has worked as a teacher, teacher trainer, lecturer, educational manager and writer of educational materials. He has lived and worked in the UK, Morocco, Spain and Belgium, and he has presented at conferences and run teacher training courses in more than 25 countries around the world. He currently lives in Brussels. His publications include the course book series Straightforward, Inside out and Matura Masters
 

 



Session 1    09.30-11.00
The wonderful world of word associations
Recent research into the way that words are organized in the human brain provides us with useful insights into how we should approach the teaching of vocabulary. Drawing on the research of Paul Meara and others, I will suggest a range of practical classroom activities for vocabulary practice that can be used in most teaching contexts. 
 
Session 2   11.30-13.15
The Return of Translation
 
For too many years, the use of L1 in language teaching has been proscribed or ignored by methodology experts, whilst many teachers have continued, sometimes guiltily, to use the language of their students when they felt it appropriate. Now, however, the wheel is beginning to turn and there  is an academic and research consensus that supports the use of L1 and translation in the language classroom. This does not entail a return to the dry and dusty days of grammar translation at its worst. The presentation will begin with a brief overview of the arguments for the use of L1 and translation in language teaching. I will then look at a wide range of practical techniques and activities which involve elements of translation and which can be accommodated within contemporary approaches to language teaching, and can be incorporated into the repertoires of language teachers of all ages and levels
 
 
 

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