1 / 18

Learning English while Doing Art

Learning English while Doing Art. Rebekah Sidman-Taveau, ESL Coordinator/Lecturer, SFAI. Myths. To improve your English: you must receive systematic instruction in a language class your English a teacher must break down the grammar concepts for you

brant
Download Presentation

Learning English while Doing Art

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Learning English while Doing Art Rebekah Sidman-Taveau, ESL Coordinator/Lecturer, SFAI

  2. Myths • To improve your English: • you must receive systematic instruction in a language class • your English a teacher must break down the grammar concepts for you • you must devote hours studying ESL textbooks and repeating exercises

  3. We’ve come a Long Way • Behaviorism • Learning is a system of behavioral responses to physical stimuli. Learning requires reinforcement, practice, and repetition • Transmission oriented views of learning, learning as passive • Break down content into parts and sequence by difficulty • Constructivist Learning theory • Learners play an active role in the construction of their own knowledge • Motivation, Anxiety, Strategy Use, and learning styles have an impact • The use of different mediational means like the visual arts helps us to reflect upon concepts (Socioconstructivist theory) (Vygotsky, 1978) • (Fostnot, 1996; Reagan, 1999)

  4. Reality • People learn best when they are motivated and engaged • A memorable moment can be as powerful as phrases repeated a hundred times • As artists in an art school in the U.S. ESL students at SFAI are in a great situation for learning relevant English skills

  5. Learn English while Doing Art • STRATEGIES • Utilize memory strategies • Take advantage of memorable moments • Interact with what you want to learn • Have fun, get silly, enjoy the sounds • Practice active listening

  6. Memory and Language Learning Kids Versus Adults • Kids – higher memory capacity, less inhibition, constant exposure to L1 • Adults – lower memory capacity, more inhibition, less exposure to L2 • What to do? Make use of Authentic resources, be childlike – curious and uninhibited- and practice memory strategies

  7. Use authentic artifacts and situations

  8. Memory Strategies Help to store and retrieve information • Mnemonics • CARE • Creating Mental Linkages • Applying Images and Sounds • Reviewing Well • Employing Actions

  9. Memory Strategy: Creating Mental Linkages • Grouping – photography terms, painting terms • Associating elaborating – learn groups of words “Block buster exhibition” and associate them with others, “block buster movie” • Placing new words into a context – create and take down sentences rather than simple definitions, draw a picture, or tell a story.

  10. Memory Strategy:Applying Images and Sounds Use Imagery – visualize in your mind or make a drawing a picture of an object, or a mental representation of the letters of a word (IPA) Use Keywords- auditory and visual links. “potage”/pot, Minnesota/mini soda Represent Sounds in Memory- itch, knee, sun, ski, go ,rock (to remember numbers in Japanese). “Brat” Russian for (brother)

  11. Visual/Auditory Link: Example North (never) West (worms) East (eat) South (soggy)

  12. Memory Strategy: Reviewing Well • Spiraling – reviewing at gradually longer intervals • Put what you have to learn into a song • Move (gesture, jump, etc) as you recite or practice • Make rhymes • Le petit chat gris qui faisait pipi ca maman lui dit ce n’est pas poli.

  13. Memory Strategies: Employing Action • Physical Response or Sensation • Physically act out a new expression – dabbing the canvas, broad strokes on the canvas, relate to a sensation • Move around words and phrases: Paint words big and small, photograph words, doodle with words, put words on note cards or in notebooks

  14. Memorable moments • Pain, engagement, laughter, embarrassment, excitement, surprise, disgust, anger –emotions may contribute to your English language learning Necessity is the mother of invention! You will learn what you need. Doctors visits, administrative tasks, errands, or even arguments are all great opportunities for learning language.

  15. Interact to Learn Proven Vocabulary building Method • 1. Say it (visualize the sound) • 2. Define it • 3. Find a synonym or antonym • 4. Make a meaningful sentence or draw a picture

  16. Have fun, get silly, enjoy the sounds • Listen to the radio in your car or while doing something else imitate the speaker • Copy an American you know • Pay attention to rhythm and stress during boring lectures • Choose an expression a day • Choose one TV show and watch it regularly

  17. Active Listening • EASEL: Engage, Anticipate, Summarize, Evaluate, and Learn • Take notes – Put unknown words in left column or underlined. Choose 2 a day to “interact with” (see slide 15)

  18. Conclusion • The world is your language classroom • Be strategic • Never underestimate a boring moment!

More Related