MATEFL DECEMBER WEBINAR
The webinar was held on Saturday, 5th December 2020 between 9:45 and 12:30 and was led by guest speaker, Jon Hird. It was attended by more than a hundred members and was enjoyed by all.
First session: Extended Speaking Activities (and the Importance of Planning) (60 minutes)
This practical session considers the importance of a pre-task planning stage in classroom speaking activities
and looks at research evidence, including that of the speaker, of how this can result in significantly increased
fluency, complexity and grammatical accuracy. We will look at how, based on the principles discussed, a simple
planning stage can, and perhaps should, be integrated into any speaking activity. Along the way we will listen to
and briefly assess a student undertaking a classroom speaking task. The session will be useful for anyone who uses,
designs or writes speaking activities.
Second Session: Do you speak 2020? Aspects of Contemporary English (75 minutes)
Language change has always been contentious. Jonathan Swift said that “it is better a language should not be wholly
perfect, than that it should be perpetually changing” while Samuel Johnson on the other hand claimed that “trying to
stop change is like trying to lash the wind.” Today, the English Language is changing and evolving at an unprecedented
rate and new words and usages are being coined all the time. This session looks at various aspects of contemporary
English, including ongoing changes in grammar and vocabulary, the influence of gender and other ‘political’ issues on
language, and the recent increase in the use of affixes. And along the way, we will consider implications for teaching
and learning.
Current members will receive a certificate of attendance which counts as CPD hours.
Power Point presentations
| pdf_malta_2020_aspects_of_contemporary_english_jon_hird.pdf |
| pdf_malta_2020_extended_speaking_and_planning_jon_hird.pdf |