Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Teaching & Education

Discourse and Society

Discourse Community

It is a group of people involved in and communicating about a particular topic, issue, or in a particular field.

Characteristics:

• Well-established or closed networks
• Made of several overlapping groups of people
• Belonging to different discourse communities can be very different
• Genres and the social relations can also vary
• Interact with wider speech communities

Common Goals:

Common objectives or public goals.

Intercommunication:

Mechanisms of communication. (Conversations, Facebook posts, face-to-face at meetings, speeches)

Participation:

Participatory mechanisms to provide information and feedback. In other words, the exchange of knowledge.

Genres:

One or more genres in the communicative utterance of its aim. (Public... Continue reading "Understanding Discourse, Speech Communities, and Pragmatics" »

Fronted object

Fronted object= “ This I do not understand” ; “Why he came this way I will probably never know”. The object of the clause is in initial position. Many different structures occur as fronted objects, such as nouns, pronouns(1) and complement clauses(2).

Fronted nominals other than object

Fronted nominals other than object= “Whether Nancy was there or not, she could not be certain”. A nominal structure is in initial position, such as the complement the adjective “certain” in the example here “ She could not be certain whether Nancy was there or not”

Fronted predicatives

Fronted predicatives= “ Far more serious were the severe head injuries” ; “ The larger the base the easier it will be to perform the action”;... Continue reading "Fronted Objects, Predicatives, and Non-finite Constructions in English" »

PREGUNTAS:

Formal Letter Writing: Essential Tips and Examples

Example 1: Job Application Letter

Carla Gómez
29 Dann Road
Liverpool
D2 3MO
25 March 2016

Human Resources
London

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to the advertisement on your website. I would like to apply for the position of [Insert Position Name].

I believe I am an ideal candidate for this position. Firstly, I love the outdoors and have a keen interest in British wildlife. I am a member of a walking group, and together we have visited many National Parks, including the Peak District. In addition, I enjoy learning about plants and animals. Secondly, I believe I have strong people skills, so I am able to work with people of different ages. Finally, I am a very hard-working person who... Continue reading "Crafting Effective Formal Letters: Examples & Tips" »

Differences and similarities between online and traditional education

How has education changed in recent years? At present, the world of information technology has improved educational practices. Online education has always been a via to take into account, however in traditional education you enjoy significantly creating emotional bonds. Traditional education and online education have similarities and differences, and also between traditional and online education there are more differences than similarities due to the following reasons.

Traditional education is different from online education because of the use of technology.

In my course of CIBERTEC, I can study and analyze at any time only having internet connection since the classes are virtual.... Continue reading "Comparing Online and Traditional Education" »

Translation Procedures

Overview

Translation procedures are the various methods and techniques employed by translators to effectively convey the meaning and intent of a source text (ST) into a target text (TT) while considering linguistic and cultural differences.

Common Translation Procedures

1. Transference

Transference, also known as borrowing, involves directly transferring words or expressions from the ST to the TT without modification. This is often used for proper nouns, technical terms, or cultural-specific concepts that lack direct equivalents in the target language.

2. Naturalization

Naturalization adapts the ST word or expression to conform to the grammatical and phonological rules of the target language. For example, the English word "computer"... Continue reading "Translation Procedures: A Comprehensive Guide" »

Specific Educational Support Needs: Hearing Impairments

In this work, we approach the Specific Educational Support Needs (SESN) found in some students, focusing specifically on hearing impairments.

Defining Hearing Impairment

Hearing impairment is defined as the loss or abnormality of the function of the auditory system, implying a deficit in the access to oral language.

Students with hearing impairments are those who suffer bilateral hearing losses. Unilateral losses typically allow for normal hearing.

Global Impact of Hearing Loss

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, there are 32 million children globally with this type of disability. In Spain alone, the number of people with hearing disabilities is close to 1 million.

These data highlight... Continue reading "Classification and Severity of Hearing Impairments" »

INTELIGENCIAS MÚLTIPLES:

1. Linguistic intelligence: the ability to use words effectively.
2. Logical/mathematical: the capacity to use number and reason effectively.
3. Visual-spatial: the capacity to recognize form, space, color, line…
4. Bodily/kinesthetic: the ability to use the body to express ideas and produce things.
5. Musical: the ability to recognize and perceive musical forms.
6. Interpersonal: to interact with the mascot, teacher or other students.
7. Intrapersonal: the ability of self-knowledge and self-understanding.
8. Naturalist: the ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature.

COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING (CLT)

It began in Britain in the 1960s. Characteristics: Language is used for communication. Hymes defines communicative... Continue reading "Approaches to Language Teaching and Learning" »

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar

Vocabulary: Personality Adjectives

• Defensive - Defensiu
• Aggressive - Agressiu
• Assertive - Assertiu
• Confident – Confiat, segur de si mateix
• Frustrated - Frustrat
• Innocent - Innocent
• Nervous - Nerviós
• Open - Obert
• Sensitive - Sensible
• Shy - Tímid
• Self-conscious – Tímid, cohibit
• Self-aware - Conscient
• Able - Capaç
• Happy – Content, feliç
• Important - Important
• Modest - Modest
• Safe - Segur
• Generous – Generós
• Polite - Educat

Vocabulary: Related Nouns

• Defensiveness - Defensa
• Aggressiveness - Agressivitat (Correction: Aggressivity)
• Assertiveness - Assertivitat (Correction: Assertivity)
• Confidence - Confiança
• Frustration - Frustració
• Innocence - Innocència
• Nervousness - Nerviosisme
• Openness - Extroversió
• Sensitivity - Sensibilitat
• Shyness

TOPIC 1: Language as Communication

1. Introduction (Krashen)

2. Language as Communication

2.1. Language Definition (Chomsky 57, Hall 64, Hockett 60)

2.2. The Communication Process (Jakobson 60)

2.3. Language as a Means of Communication (Widdowson 78)

3. Oral and Written Language (Halliday 89)

3.1. Development of Oral and Written Language (Skinner 57)

3.2. Development and Improvement of Oral Language

3.3. Development and Improvement of Written Language (Piaget)

3.4. Characteristics of Oral and Written Language (McLaren 95)

3.5. Pedagogical Implications

4. Factors Defining a Communicative Situation (Jakobson 60)

5. Functions of Language

6. Language as Communication in the Foreign Language Curriculum (RD126, Art7, Canale & Swain 80)

TOPIC 2: Communication