EFL Learning and Teaching in Taiwan

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94605122011-04-22T05:08:12.464+08:00EFL Learning and Teaching in TaiwanThis blog is dedicated to sharing anything I know about EFL learning and teaching in Taiwan (including my study notes)with other people who are also interested in this topic.Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-31390495732343968352007-03-20T16:43:00.000+08:002007-04-08T15:13:45.414+08:00Ellis's Q2: What grammar should we teach?

(2) What grammar should we teach?This question can be broken down into two separate questions:1. What kind of grammar should we base teaching on?2. Which grammar features should we teach?grammatical models: structural grammars, generative grammars (based on a theory of universal grammar), functional grammars (p.86)Modern syllabuses give more attention to the functions performed by grammatical

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-35791570829443171672007-03-20T16:15:00.000+08:002007-03-20T16:43:13.603+08:00Ellis's Q1: Should we teach grammar?

(1). Should we teach grammar?Some researchers' findings: (p.85-86)1. Krashen (1981) argued that grammar instruction could contribute to learning bu tthis was of limited value because communicative ability was dependent on acquisition.2. Pica (1983), Long (1983), White, Spada, Lightbown, & Ranta (1991): These studies showed that, by and large, the order of acquisition was the same for instructed

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-81318678736854446222007-03-20T14:50:00.000+08:002007-04-08T14:55:50.331+08:00Summary of Rod Ellis's article on TESOL Quarterly 2006

Ellis, R. (2006). Current issues in the teaching of grammar: An SLA perspective. TESOL Quarterly, 40(1), 83-107.Rod Ellis addressed 8 questions about grammar teaching and learning:(1) Should we teach grammar, or should we simple create the conditions by which learners learn naturally?(2) What grammar should we teach?(3) When should we teach grammar? Is it best to teach grammar when learners first

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-20008150996251149882007-03-15T10:05:00.002+08:002007-03-20T14:50:51.165+08:00Ch#2 Language choice in multilingual communities

Here are some key points that I learned from reading chapter 2 of my sociolinguistics textbook (An introduction to sociolinguistics by Janet Holmes, second edition, 2001).linguistic repertories: all the languages that one can use fluentlydomains (a term popularized by an American sociolinguist Joshu Fishman): A domain involves typical interactions between typical participants in typical settings.

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1173369423826769102007-03-08T23:25:00.000+08:002007-03-10T12:38:59.947+08:00Sociolinguistics - cultural differences

Today, we saw part of a comedy entitled "Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (芭樂特：哈薩克青年必修(理)美國文化), which will be released on March 23, 2007 here in Taiwan. You can veiw a short trailer from Apple's website.It's a hilarious movie in which much fun resulted from the misunderstanding of cross-cultural communuication and cultural differences. We use

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1144914561550854912006-04-13T15:36:00.000+08:002007-03-18T18:16:53.622+08:00Tamkang International Conference on Second Language Writing

Tamkang University is going to hold an International Conference on Second Language Writing on Dec 1st and 2nd of 2006. As far as I know, this is the only conference in Taiwan that is focused specifically on L2 writing. Important dates for this conference:Abstract due: July 10, 2006Camear-ready paper due: September 30, 2006Conference dates: December 1st and 2nd, 2006Two of the invited speakers in

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1110456724167437682005-03-10T19:55:00.000+08:002007-03-18T18:17:19.243+08:002005 International Conference on TEFL and Applied Linguistics

2005 International Conference on TEFL and Applied Linguistics held by Ming Chuan University is scheduled to be unveiled tomorrow. Invited keynote speakers include Prof. James Dean Brown (topic: Language testing policy: The needs of students, teachers, and administrators) and Prof. Richard Day (topic: Why EFL students can't read). In addition, there are a couple of pannel discussions such as (1)

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1108480531151818432005-02-15T22:59:00.000+08:002007-03-18T18:18:19.687+08:00Should we teach our students English grammar?

According to an article published on Jan. 19, 2005 Times Newspapers in Britian, teaching grammar to our students is not whorthwhile in terms of improving their English writing ability. However, it also reported that some scholars disagree with the results of this research.I strongly believe that in an EFL environment teaching our students important and practical grammar is extremely essential. "

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1108270474753507402005-02-13T12:34:00.000+08:002007-03-18T18:18:53.475+08:002005 EFL conferences in Taiwan - ver. 1

Happy Chinese New Year. If you are interested in English teaching-related conferences here in Taiwan in 2005, here are some of them:1. 2005 Conference and Workshop on TEFL and Applied Linguistics,Department of Applied English, Ming Chuan University (Date: March 12 ~ March 13) (abstract deadline past already). Details about the conference can be found at the Department of Applied English at Ming

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1107954266884524502005-02-09T21:04:00.000+08:002007-03-18T18:19:19.548+08:00digital media designer class

digital_media_designerOriginally uploaded by MichaelWu.As an English teacher who is interested in CALL, CAI, CMC, CAT, & E-learning, I think it is quite important to keep up with the latest educational technology. I got a chance to take a digital media designer class at Tamkang University, Taipei from Jan. 10, 2005 ~ Jan. 28, 2005. I learned how to use a lot of new software such as "Articualte",

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460512.post-1102173930049219672004-12-04T23:40:00.000+08:002004-12-04T23:45:12.016+08:00The first posting

I wonder how many English teachers in Taiwan are using blog in their English teaching. I hope this is a start for some English teachers in Taiwan or English language professionals around the world to share your English learning and teaching experience. I will share my personal blog learning experience with English teachers who are interested in applying blogs to their class instruction. You are

Michael Wuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06754396194708528677noreply@blogger.com1