English TMP LE & ECLPE

Key unit competence: To use available learning and teaching resources in the learning and teaching of English language at primary level of education

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

Read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow:

Umulisa is a primary one English teacher at Murago primary school. She teaches primary one A and her colleague Kalisa teaches the rest of the classes at lower level. One day the headmistress told her that she wanted to come and watch her lesson. The next day, the headmistress came in her class as planned. The lesson title was classroom object. She wrote the lesson title on the blackboard and asked learners to keep quiet. During the lesson, Umulisa’s job was only to list classroom objects and ask pupils to repeat each object as she mentioned it. When the lesson came to an end, the headmistress randomly picked one pupil and asked him to show to the class the cupboard. The pupil failed to show the cupboard to this colleague. The headmistress told Umulisa to come in her office for feedback.

a. Why do you think the pupil failed to show the cupboard to his classmates?

b. Which comments would you give to Umulisa?

2.1. Classroom highly equipped with literacy materials

Observing and discussing an image of multimedia tool used in teaching and learning

Discuss the contribution of one laptop per child in teaching and learning English language.

2.1.1. Defining major types of English learning materials

Print materials: this refers to the teaching and learning resources made of words or symbols produced on paper either by a machine or manuscript. 

Non print materials: these are materials that are not processed on a paper with machine or manuscript but can be found in the environment. 

Multimedia materials: multimedia is defined as the use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation and sound in an integrated way.

2.1.2. Picture observation and interpretation

Observe the following image and discuss how the learning environment can contibute to the English teaching and learning.

2.1.3. Reading materials

2.1.3.a. Learning activity

Read the text below and answer the questions that follow:

Textbooks have more advantageous teaching material in many ways. There is a lot within various texts that can help learners and teachers feel confident since they provide direction in whatever they teach or learn. Textbooks present different types of activities and the following are aspects that teachers and learners should identify when using learning and teaching materials:

These should be easy to use with some level of difficulty, topics are chosen from simple to more complex, regular to irregular and structured to less structured

A teacher of English should know how to select and grade resource materials to ensure that they suit the linguistic level of learners and stimulate their interest in the learning and use of language. He/she must choose textbooks which can help in the facilitation and learning of the four language skills, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as grammar and vocabulary. Books chosen should be used selectively as teaching and learning aids in the teaching and learning process.

It is also expected that the teacher provides a variety of resources to motivate learners. Such a variety of resources allows the teacher to expose learners to different English language structures and show them how specific language structures are used in different contexts

It has been indicated that sources of language teaching and learning materials are extremely numerous: written materials, visual as well as oral materials. We are consistently surrounded by an environment in which many available resources can be exploited. All sorts of resources should be explored and made real materials to engage learners effectively in language learning activities

a. Why should a teacher be selective towards teaching and learningresources?

b. Which criteria should the teacher use when selecting books for learners to read?

Notes:

2.1.4. Types of instructional materials for teaching English

Learning and teaching English requires a lot of patience, energy, time, creativity and competence. The success of the teaching and learning of a language skills including English is determined by a number of factors both linguistic and non linguistic such as pupils, the teacher, methods, materials and multimedia resources or aids used.

English teaching materials from environment are also very important. They can help pupils acquire new concepts, skills and language competences. There are three kinds of teaching and learning resources (print, non print and multimedia resources) which can be used by the teachers in the teaching learning process, but the teacher should be selective in the choice of teaching and learning materials. This summary discusses some of instructional materials for teaching English\

Flashcard

Flashcards are small cards with a picture or symbol on them used in teaching learning. In the classroom, flashcards are commonly used to teach reading. A picture, for example, of an elephant may be drawn or stuck on a card and the word ‘Elephant’ written underneath or on a different card. The pupils are encouraged to associate the pictures and the words through various

Charts

A chart is a combination of pictorial, graphic, numerical or vertical material which presents a clear visual summary. Edgar Dale defines charts as, “a visual symbol summarizing or comparing or contrasting or performing other helpful services in explaining subject-matter”. The main function of the chart is always to show relationships such as comparisons, relative amounts, developments, processes, classification and organization. ‘look and say’ activities and games.

Computer:

When we talk about multimedia, a term CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) should not be ignored. Rwanda is striving for integrating technology into various aspects of the country’s education sector. To that end the laptop can be used as a teaching and learning tool in English class

2.2. Teaching and learning materials from local environment

2.2.1. Examples of teaching /learning materials

2.2.a. Learning activity

Select among the above teaching and learning materials that are available in your local environment the best you can use to teach English language.

Soil, stones, sticks, bottle tops, straws, animal wastes, boxes, ropes, plants, feathers, mats, sorghum stems, reeds, flowers, sand, tobacco leaves, water, seeds, used up clothes, banana fibres, grass, egg shells, tree, bark clothes, barks, rice sacks, plastic bottles, papers, pens, fruits, vegetables, animal wastes, domestic objects, sugarcane, tea, cigarettes, nails, glue, pair of scissors, masking tapes, markers, eggs, food stuff, salt, torches, lamps, candles, low cost, polythene bags, envelopes, readers, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, radios, resource persons, locally made toys, Computers, projectors, digital cameras, audio visuals, software, interactive, simulators, laboratory equipment, professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers)

Notes:

We are surrounded by the environment from which we can find the best things to use for teaching and learning . It is the teacher’s role to make lessons interesting by preparing teaching and learning aids that he/she uses in the classroom. What to remember is that the teacher shouldn’t bring in the classroom real materials that distract pupils rather than helping them to focus on what they are learning.

2.3. End unit assessment

a. Describe the resources used for teaching English in primary.

b. Working group of four, make three resources of English teaching and learning and demonstrate how they can be used in English class.

c. Discuss the importance of OLPC in teaching English.