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Informed Language Teacher

Just to let you know that I’m rather excited about a new project I’m embarking on shortly. I’m going to set up a website, working title “Informed Language Teacher”. This site will be a free portal for trainee language teachers and older hands who want to access some interesting research information to support and maybe improve their teaching.

It’ll work as follows. The site will comprise around a dozen pages or so,  each of which will contain links to readings, videos or podcasts about key issues in language learning and teaching. The result will be a sort of “one stop shop” to enable busy teachers to have an overview of research.

My themes will include: the big ideas of second language learning (e.g. how we learn, the role of input and interaction), lesson planning, grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, speaking, writing and assessment. I’ll include a page of sources about how to run a classroom, including the big issues of behaviour management and formative assessment. The content of the site won’t adhere to any particular approach or method. It’s more about helping teachers become critical and informed practioners.

I don’t intend to write much new material at all for this project, apart from brief introductions to each linked resource. As I say, the site will link to the clearest and most useful sources I know, some of which are written by “big names” in the field of second language acquisition.

This is not a teaching resources site, nor is it a place to find ready-made classroom activities. The focus is on accessible research for overworked teachers, both new and experienced. Teachers can dip in when they feel like it.

So when I get back from my holiday here in Japan, I’ll get to work on putting this together. I already have a good number of great sources in mind. Should be fun!

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