Bài giảng Phương pháp giảng dạy Tiếng Anh - Chapter 4: How to describe learning & teaching

Chapter 4: How to describe 
learning & teaching
Harmer, J. (1999). How to teach English. Longman
1. Concepts about language learning & 
teaching
Adults: learning w/o studying if in the right 
kind of contact
 Children & adults similarly acquire 
language successfully outside the 
classroom:
First, being exposed to the language
Second, motivated to learn to communicate
Third, having opportunities to use the
language they have just learned 
2. Elements for successful language 
learning in the classroom
 Engage
 Study
 Activate
 Engage
 Aims
 Arousing learners’ interest & involving their 
emotions 
 Activities & Materials:
 Games (depending on ages, types)
 Music
 Discussion
 Pictures
 Stories/anecdotes
 Study
 Main focus:
 the construction of the language
 Activities
 Pronunciation practice
 Grammar presentation
 Structure/grammar drills
 Vocabulary presentation/practice 
 Reading a text (content/language) 
 Activate
 Purpose/Aim:
 Getting Ss using the language as freely and 
communicatively as they can 
 Typical activities:
 Role – plays
 Debates & discussions
 Story & poem writing
 Writing in a group
3. ESA in different lesson sequences
ESA Straight Arrow Sequence
EAS(A) Boomerang Sequence
EAASASEA (etc) Patchwork Sequence 
 ESA Straight Arrow Sequence
Engage  Study  Activate (p.27)
 Taking Ss in a straight line
 First, get Ss interested & Engaged
 Then, study something (e.g. how grammar points 
are constructed) & give Ss a chance to practice 
the language in a controlled way
 Finally, Ss try to Activate it by putting it into 
production (e.g giving them a chance to activate 
the new language in an enjoyable way) 
Limitations of ESA lessons
 not appropriate for advanced learners with 
more complex language
 not answer the learners’ need
 The Bomerang Sequence
Engage Activate Study Activate (p.28)
 Teacher: answering the need of learners
The connection b/w what Ss need to learn & 
what they are taught: transparent
 placing a great burden one teacher b/c he/she 
will have to be able to find materials based on 
the (unforseen) problems thrown up at the 
Activate stage
Appropriate for intermediate & advanced level
 The Patchwork
Engage Activate Activate Study 
Activate Study Activate Study 
Engage Activate
(page 29)
4. What teaching models have influenced 
current teaching practice?
 Grammar Translation
 Audio-lingualism
 Presentation-Practice-Production
Task-Based Learning
 Communicative Language Teaching