Special Days of the Year

Abstract

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this textbook is to make an active and fun class while learning English and to maximize learners’ participation and language learning. RATIONALE Motivation: Various methods and learning resources such as songs, arts, and various physical activities will stimulate young learner’s motivation and it will promote learner’s initiative in language learning. Literature: Children’s literature offers various language elements such as vocabulary and grammars. Reading the story also leads to learners’ practice of useful reading strategies. Reading stories will significantly improve the young learner’s overall language ability. Interaction: Interaction plays an important role in language learning (Long, 1996). While interacting with the teacher and peers meaningfully and frequently in collaboration, learners will naturally develop their language and reach their potential within the ZPD (Vygotsky, 1978). Cultural understanding: Learning cultural diversity and comparing to their own culture is not only an exciting task for language learners but it also boosts leaner’s critical thinking and develops intercultural competence. TARGET LEARNERS: First to second grade elementary school students; mixed gender CLASS CONTEXT: Private English institute, around 8-10 students PROFICIENCY LEVEL: Between Level 2 Beginning and Level 3 Developing on the WIDA Standard 2. METHODS Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT)/ Task Oriented Activities Total Physical Response (TPR) Theme-based instruction (TBI) Story reading 3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Students will become aware of cultural diversity and customs related to the special days. Students will expand their knowledge of the language while reading books. Students will develop the four skills and tune their language by recycling language items. Students will acquire the language naturally while responding and participating in various physical activities under low stress (Richards &Rodgers, 2001).