GILT stands for Global Innovative Language Teachers. It's the Facebook professional group for language teachers around the world, although in truth it is dominated by teachers working with GCSE, IGCSE and A-level so far. Thanks largely to Gianfranco Conti it stands out from the other excellent Facebook groups such as Secondary MFL Matters and MFL Teachers' Lounge in so far as it is not just about sharing resources and finding answers to problems, but also a place to discuss theoretical and methodological matters.
Because Gianfranco set it up and is a regular contributor it has also spread the word among teachers about the lexicogrammar approach to teaching. To put it concisely and perhaps crudely, this research-informed approach is founded on the principle of chunking language within highly comprehensible texts and exercises, using, in particular, sentence builder frames and narrow reading and listening tasks. If used with skill and belief, the approach can produce lessons dominates by speaking and listening in the target language, often in pairs or small groups, and where language is always comprehensible to students. But I digress... Other approaches are available.
There are good reasons to join the group, I believe. It's a useful way to connect with teachers from different backgrounds, including TEFL. You may have your eyes opened to other techniques and approaches which you can assess critically and possibly incorporate in your own repertoire. If you are not very conversant with research issues, you'll pick up some of the major strands, such as the importance of comprehensible input, how vocabulary is best acquired, the role of listening and how to make it a more successful experience for learners, and ways to teach grammar. Links to significant research articles or concise summaries are often posted.
In addition, teachers generously upload files to the group which can be freely shared. On occasion, teachers post resources and ask for suggestions for how they might be improved. Questions rarely go unanswered. You can also make direct contact with writers of methodological books from (mainly) the MFL world.
The group is administered and lightly moderated by a team of teachers from various countries, including myself, so you can be assured that conversations are varied, civil and relevant. Indeed, like the other Facebook groups, the atmosphere is supportive and focused, more focused than Twitter, for example.
As an admin person, I would love to see posts from a wider range of teachers with different perspectives. I like the idea of teachers developing a less parochial perspective about the craft of language teaching. It's so easy to forget that there is a world beyond GCSE! So do come and find us on Facebook, have a lurk, share your experience, learn something new and make your own contributions!
Because Gianfranco set it up and is a regular contributor it has also spread the word among teachers about the lexicogrammar approach to teaching. To put it concisely and perhaps crudely, this research-informed approach is founded on the principle of chunking language within highly comprehensible texts and exercises, using, in particular, sentence builder frames and narrow reading and listening tasks. If used with skill and belief, the approach can produce lessons dominates by speaking and listening in the target language, often in pairs or small groups, and where language is always comprehensible to students. But I digress... Other approaches are available.
There are good reasons to join the group, I believe. It's a useful way to connect with teachers from different backgrounds, including TEFL. You may have your eyes opened to other techniques and approaches which you can assess critically and possibly incorporate in your own repertoire. If you are not very conversant with research issues, you'll pick up some of the major strands, such as the importance of comprehensible input, how vocabulary is best acquired, the role of listening and how to make it a more successful experience for learners, and ways to teach grammar. Links to significant research articles or concise summaries are often posted.
In addition, teachers generously upload files to the group which can be freely shared. On occasion, teachers post resources and ask for suggestions for how they might be improved. Questions rarely go unanswered. You can also make direct contact with writers of methodological books from (mainly) the MFL world.
The group is administered and lightly moderated by a team of teachers from various countries, including myself, so you can be assured that conversations are varied, civil and relevant. Indeed, like the other Facebook groups, the atmosphere is supportive and focused, more focused than Twitter, for example.
As an admin person, I would love to see posts from a wider range of teachers with different perspectives. I like the idea of teachers developing a less parochial perspective about the craft of language teaching. It's so easy to forget that there is a world beyond GCSE! So do come and find us on Facebook, have a lurk, share your experience, learn something new and make your own contributions!
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