Bics Examples

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The concept developed by Jim Cummins to make a distinction between a non complex social interactional language ability (BICS) and the more complex academic language ability. (See CALP). BICS has been described as ‘Playground English’ and represents the easier to pick up, small chunks of language the students are able to use first.  [Read more]

  The next example of a game that we can adapt very easily for classroom use is the game of Jeopardy and in this particular game, what we can do is to have a set of levels for our questions, I'd say one through five, where one is going to be the easiest example and five is going to be the most difficult and then, in each of these sets of boxes, we can have various grammar points, such as tenses, perhaps modals, vocabulary and maybe even conditionals. So what the students can do is they can pick a particular topic first of all and within that topic, they can pick the level of the question that they want and then we can have a set of cards that have been created to fit into these slots and we can ask them that question at that level. So, a very simple adaptation of the game jeopardy...  [Read more]

  Okay, so we're going to use this pro-forma as our lesson plan and we're going to fill one out as though we were planning for an actual lesson. So, we start off with some basic information about the class. So, the name of the teacher, date and time and the class level. In this particular case, our class is going to be an elementary class and the room will be room 3. Having looked through the registers we see that the expected number of students for this particular class is going to be 10. This will help us in creating our worksheet copies. The context of the lesson for this class is going to be present continuous tense and it may well be the first time that this particular level of class has been introduced to this tense. So, our focus is going to be fairly general and it's going...  [Read more]

  So let's take an example of what those drills might involve. So here is an example of a repetition drill. I will model the language and then my class will repeat after me. So "This is a cup." "Spoon" ? "This is a spoon." "Knife" - "his is a knife." Thank you. The reason that it's called or also called the army method is that it was the method adopted by the United States military who had personnel stationed around the world at the end of Second World War and they realized that they needed those personnel to pick up the language very quickly and one of the positive things about this particular methodology is that you do very quickly learn vocabulary. Another positive thing about it is that you quickly learn the correct pronunciation of that vocabulary. However, there are some...  [Read more]

  So, let's take a common game that's been played over the years, which is called Noughts and Crosses or Tic-Tac-Toe. What we're going to do is to adapt this game for classroom use. So, we've taken the normal Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts and Crosses grid and we've just numbered out each of the particular squares. What we can then do is to form teams and those teams can then be asked a series of questions and they get to choose which question they want from 1 to 9. So, let's say, for example, they choose question 1. That could be on anything that they have studied ,the grammar or vocabulary. If they get that question correct and say they are the Noughts or the zeros then they get to put their mark here. What the next group will probably do is to try to block them in some way by choosing...  [Read more]

  So, having elicited this particular structure, what I'm now able to do is to move on to the actual study activities. Typically, they will be in the form of worksheets to check that the students actually understand this information. So, I might prepare three activities. They may not do them all but, for example, I could prepare these three study activities. So, the first one is going to be a fairly straightforward matching activity, where perhaps they match the subject to its correct verb "to be" in that part of the sentence. The second one is going to be a gap fill. For example, I might use this verb here and ask them to complete a sentence using that verb, so that I can check that any spelling changes that take place are correct and the final one is going to be an unscramble,...  [Read more]

  The first part of my study phase is going to be the board work and I'm going to use the information that I generated in the elicitation part of my engage phase to move on to the actual board work. What I'm going to do is to show the structure of this particular tense. So, the phase study I'm expecting to take about ten minutes on this particular part and, again, the interaction will mainly be the students talking to me. So, how am I going to achieve that with this information? Well, we could ask the students to have a look at the sentences themselves and to tell us what they can see. If we look at each of the first words in here, then at this level, I should hopefully be able to elicit from my students what each of these words have in common and they may well give an answer that...  [Read more]

Setting clear learning objectives is crucial in TESOL as it provides a roadmap for both teachers and students. Clear objectives help teachers focus on what needs to be achieved in each lesson, ensuring that the content is relevant and aligned with the overall learning goals. For students, clear objectives provide a sense of direction and purpose, helping them understand what is expected of them and how they can track their progress. To establish clear learning objectives in TESOL, teachers can follow a structured approach. Firstly, they should identify the learning goals based on the curriculum and students' needs. Next, teachers can break down these goals into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. It is essential to use language that is...  [Read more]

Incorporating real-world contexts into Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is essential for creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences for students. By connecting language learning to real-life situations, students can see the practical relevance of what they are learning and are more likely to retain and apply the language skills in their daily lives. Real-world contexts help students understand the cultural nuances of language use, improve their communication skills, and build confidence in using English outside the classroom. There are various strategies that TESOL teachers can use to integrate real-world contexts into their lessons. One effective approach is to use authentic materials such as newspapers, magazines, advertisements, or videos that reflect...  [Read more]

--- Storytelling has been a fundamental part of human communication for centuries, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. In the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), incorporating storytelling and narrative-based approaches can significantly enhance language learning experiences for students. By weaving stories into language lessons, educators can create a more engaging and immersive learning environment that fosters language acquisition in a natural and authentic way. Utilizing storytelling in the TEFL classroom offers a myriad of benefits for both teachers and students. Firstly, stories captivate learners' attention and make language input more memorable, aiding in vocabulary retention and comprehension. Additionally, narratives provide context for language...  [Read more]

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method that encourages students to learn through active engagement in real-world and personally meaningful projects. In the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), incorporating PBL into lessons can have numerous benefits for both language acquisition and overall student development. One of the primary advantages of incorporating PBL into TESOL lessons is the enhancement of language skills. Through working on projects, students are exposed to authentic language use in context, which helps improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Additionally, PBL promotes meaningful communication as students collaborate with their peers to complete tasks, leading to increased fluency and accuracy in English....  [Read more]

2. Benefits of Using Multimedia Resources and Digital Tools in Language Learning --- In the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), multimedia resources and digital tools play a crucial role in enhancing language learning for students. These tools encompass a wide range of technologies, including videos, interactive games, online platforms, and mobile applications, that can be utilized to create engaging and dynamic learning experiences for language learners. TESOL teachers can leverage these resources to cater to diverse learning styles, promote language skills development, and foster an interactive and communicative classroom environment. --- The integration of multimedia resources and digital tools in TESOL offers numerous benefits to both teachers and...  [Read more]

--- Incorporating real-world experiences into TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) lessons is crucial for enhancing language learning and making it more relevant and engaging for students. Utilizing real-world contexts helps learners connect the language they are acquiring to practical situations they may encounter in their daily lives, thus increasing motivation and retention. By bringing authentic materials and experiences into the classroom, teachers can ensure that students are better prepared to use the language outside of the classroom. There are several effective strategies that teachers can use to incorporate real-world experiences into their TEFL lessons. One approach is to use authentic materials such as newspapers, advertisements, and menus to create meaningful...  [Read more]

TESOL teaching objectives are essential for planning, executing, and evaluating English language lessons effectively. These objectives outline what students should be able to accomplish by the end of a lesson or course. They serve as a roadmap for teachers to follow and help students understand what is expected of them. Clear and measurable objectives are crucial for successful language learning outcomes. Effective TESOL teaching objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). They should clearly state what students will learn, how their progress will be assessed, and the timeframe for achieving the objectives. Objectives should be student-centered, focusing on the learners' needs and goals. They should also align with the overall learning outcomes...  [Read more]

--- Community service projects offer TESOL teachers valuable opportunities to make a positive impact beyond the classroom. Engaging in community service projects allows teachers to apply their teaching skills in real-world settings, contribute to the community, and enhance their own professional development. These projects can take various forms, including volunteering at local organizations, organizing language workshops for immigrants, or collaborating with schools to support English language learners. Participating in community service projects as a TESOL teacher provides numerous benefits. Firstly, it allows teachers to connect with diverse communities and gain a deeper understanding of their needs and challenges. This hands-on experience can enhance cultural competence and empathy,...  [Read more]

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional method that encourages students to delve into real-world challenges and acquire a deeper understanding of the subject matter through hands-on projects. In TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), PBL can be a powerful tool to engage students, enhance their language skills, and foster critical thinking and collaboration. By working on projects, students are motivated to use English in authentic situations, promoting language acquisition in a meaningful context. Incorporating PBL into TEFL lessons offers numerous benefits to both students and teachers. Firstly, it enhances student motivation and engagement by providing a purposeful context for language learning. Projects allow students to take ownership of their learning process, leading...  [Read more]

Storytelling is a powerful tool in language teaching as it engages students in a meaningful and memorable way. Incorporating stories and narratives into TESOL lessons can enhance language learning by providing context, promoting vocabulary acquisition, improving listening and speaking skills, and fostering cultural understanding. By using stories, teachers can create a more dynamic and interactive learning environment that caters to different learning styles and levels of proficiency. The use of storytelling in TESOL lessons offers numerous benefits to both teachers and students. Stories help create a context for language learning, making vocabulary and grammar more meaningful and easier to remember. They also provide opportunities for students to practice listening and speaking skills in...  [Read more]

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a student-centered teaching approach that allows learners to explore real-world problems and challenges. In TEFL, incorporating PBL into the curriculum can enhance language acquisition by engaging students in meaningful, interactive tasks. By focusing on projects that require collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, students can develop their language skills in authentic contexts. PBL can be a valuable tool for teachers looking to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences for their students. There are several benefits to incorporating PBL into a TEFL curriculum. Firstly, PBL promotes active learning by encouraging students to take ownership of their learning process. By working on projects that are personally meaningful, students are...  [Read more]

Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by practitioners to improve their own practices, solve specific problems, or enhance the effectiveness of their work. In the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), action research plays a crucial role in promoting reflective teaching practices and empowering teachers to be agents of change in their classrooms. TESOL teachers have various opportunities to engage in action research to enhance their teaching methodologies, address specific challenges, and contribute to the ongoing development of the field. Engaging in action research offers numerous benefits for TESOL teachers. Firstly, it provides teachers with a structured approach to reflect on their teaching practices and make informed decisions based on...  [Read more]