INTRODUCCIÓN
In the past, the school subject “English” was similar to any other: a theoretical process in which students had to listen, absorb information and regurgitate as much as possible in exams. However, now that English skills are tested, in addition to theoretical knowledge (typical B2 exams give 20% of the marks to speaking), many students find that they have considerable difficulties attaining the level required. What is more, with so many employees now needing English skills in the real world, they find that they are at a serious competitive disadvantage in relation to people from other countries when searching for work and career success in an increasingly international setting.
Speaking has long been the “black sheep” of English language teaching in Spain, and this course intends to explore and assess the importance of pronunciation within that skill. We will look at the importance of “a good accent”, both for teachers, as models, and for students, especially since most teachers are not native speakers, and explore and practise different ways to improve the teacher’s confidence and success in this respect.
OBJETIVOS
• To improve teachers’ awareness of pronunciation issues, and to provide them with more tools that will improve students’ skills.
• To establish the importance of vocabulary (acquisition and practice).
• Explore tools such as “the phonemic chart” in the light of modern technologies.
• Use contrastive analysis to explore the problems of pronouncing vowels and consonants.
• Explore and practise ways to improve prosodic features, such as intonation and stress.
• To help boost teachers’ confidence in relation to teaching pronunciation!
CONTENIDOS
• The double nature of the problem
• How important is a "good accent"?
• Spelling rules - or not?
• Importance of the phonemic chart
• A detailed review of vowels, part 1
• Vowels, part 2
• Consonants
• Prosodic features
• Resources
• Theories
• Making it fun
METODOLOGÍA
We will use discussion, examples and practical activities to explore and develop the presentation materials.
PONENTE
Paul Viggers has been teaching English for over thirty years. After graduating he worked as a secondary school teacher of English in the Sudan for three years, followed by International House in Santander. He then took a postgraduate teaching qualification in English as a second and foreign language, studying with Professor David Crystal at the University of Bangor, in Wales. During his eight years as a teacher and Director of Studies at The British Council he was an examiner for the speaking part of the Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency exams, and later worked at the University of Glamorgan in the UK, where he was a senior lecturer in English.
Since 2002 he has been working as a freelance English (and Spanish!) teacher in Cantabria, and has been a “profesor asociado” at the University of Cantabria since 2011.
DATOS DE PARTICIPACIÓN
LUGAR DE CELEBRACIÓN:
CEP CANTABRIA. LA ALBERICIA, SANTANDER.
FECHAS DE CELEBRACIÓN:
20, 21 de abril.
4, 5, 11, 12, 18 de mayo.
HORARIO: de 18 a 21 horas.
PLAZAS: 25.
DESTINATARIOS
Profesorado de inglés que esté prestando servicios en centros docentes de la Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria en el curso 2014-2015.
INSCRIPCIÓN
A través de la web: http://www.cepdecantabria.es
Hasta el 16 de abril 2015.
La lista de admitidos se publicará en la misma web el 17 de abril por la mañana.