Unit 13 Integrated Skills

Aims of the Unit

- to be aware of the reasons of integrating the four skills; - to learn two ways of integrating the four skills - to study the implications of integrating the four skills for teaching - to be aware of the limitations of integrating the four skills

Activity 1: Answer cultural question and introduce rational for Integrated skills . Discuss with your partner before you write down your answers. Question: Is the capital of Australia Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne?

 Which skills do you use to answer the question? Reading, listening, speaking, writing, thinking, researching, interacting.

Activity 2: Discussion Why do we teach Integrated Skills?

Because it is closer to real life communication or It is a more realistic way of learning a language.

Activity 3: Eliciting
Why Should We Integrate the Four Skills?

I. Why Should We Integrate the Four Skills?

Do you agree?
Everyday in Chinese, you use the 4 skills all the time, so English should be taught the same and that when you become teachers you are going to teach English using Integrated Skills.

 Activity 4: Discuss in groups of four. Which skills are involved in each situation, one, two, three, four? How many?

situation
Discussing a magazine article with a friend

listening

speaking

reading

writing

Attending a lecture
Riding a bicycle on your own

Ordering a meal in a restaurant

Activity 5: Discuss in groups of four.

Think of a situation which involves 4 skills and share your idea with your partners.

II. How Can We Integrate the Four Skills?

1) Simple integration
The easiest form of integration is within the same medium (either oral or written), from receptive to productive skills. Type of medium Receptive Skill Productive Skills

Oral Medium Written Medium

Listening Reading

Speaking Writing

2) PPP and Complex integration

This involves constructing a series of activities that use a variety of skills. In each of the activities, there is realistic, communicative use of language.

Topic : interviewing famous people.

Skills : Listen to an interview Read a magazine article Speak, interview a famous film star Speak, interview each other Write a magazine article Go back over the concept of PPP and decide what each section is.

III. What Are the Implications for Teaching?

1. Focus on discourse 2. Adjusting the textbook contents

3. Adjusting the timetable

IV. What Are the Limitations of Integrating the Four Skills?

1) Neglecting the role that a separate focus on individual aspects of vocabulary, grammar and skills can play. 2) The problem of designing suitable materials that account of students different skill levels.

Activity 5: Practice planning outline of Integrated skills lesson Plan steps for a lesson based on topic : Going on holiday Works in groups, plan, get feedback, check PPP, and logical progression.