Is it enough to employ authentic materials and communicative situations?
Dear Prof
It is very important question. The preparation of the positive environment of the class is crucial with its two axes; the physical environment and the role of the teacher as positive climate creator. This can promote for natural order of learning specifically if it is accompanied with relaxed atmosphere that don't allow to anxiety and fear to be existed in class.
Liqaa
The lesson plan has LOTS of authentic interaction in the target language, not just lecture and memorization.
In addition to what is related, the use of technology in all its types can also encourage the setting of suitable class environment that facilitates the process of language acquisition.
Learning and acquisition unfold through substantially different cycles. The fact that foreign language learning takes place within the bounds of a classroom mitigates the required spontaneity dominating the acquisition process. Therefore, teachers at best resort to simulated real life techniques in order to maximize the naturalness which is an inherent element of the acquisition process.
Virtual communication with a contribution for people plays to communicated interesting.
Providing multiple genres of reading materials will help creating conducive environment in your EFL classroom. I have tried this before.
Comprehensible input & total physical response are two good techniques to use daily. Also, don't forget about the affective filter. If students feel at ease rather than stressed or threatened on an emotional level in some way, they will better acquire language. All of these are from Prof. Stephen Krashen at University of Southern California. You may already be familiar with his work.
Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for your suggestion. Yes Mam I am quite familiar with the Krashen's hypothesis of affective filter.
Dear Dr. Salam One of the important ways for creating a foreign language acquisition environment in the classroom is teaching the English or the American culture. Culture can be considered , according to Larsen-Freeman and Anderson , a " fifth" skill in addition to the four skills that we consider . The genre of proverbs is one of the most important elements of culture . Culture values are transmitted through proverbs. This way makes students know how the people of the target language think and view the world.
My best regards
Assuming that your distinction between learning and acquisition is the same as Krashen's, I would suggest that you incorporate a lot of meaningful communication activities between you and your students, and among your students. By meaningful communication activities, I mean activities that mirror the kinds of things your students usually communicate with others about, not simply use particular elements of language for the sake of practising those particular elements of language.