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TeachingEnglish podcast: How can we teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively?

Series 3, episode 2: How can we teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively? 

It's episode 2 of our new series, and this week we are discussing how to teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively. We talk to Jo Cummins, freelance ELT teacher, trainer and materials writer. Jo shares some ideas for communicative activities in the classroom that can help students move from passive grammar and vocabulary knowledge to active use of language for communication. We also look at how classrooms can become a 'safe space' for students to make errors, so that they can become more confident speakers outside the classroom. Later, we are joined by Luis Carabantes from Queen Mary University of London, who talks to us about communicative language teaching (CLT). We also discuss the importance of providing learners with authentic language and tasks, and of questioning the reasons for teaching what we teach. 

Show notes and transcripts in English and Arabic are available to download at the bottom of this page.

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You can download the episode below or listen on the following platforms:

You can also search for 'British Council: TeachingEnglish' wherever you get your podcasts, or paste the following URL into your podcast platform: https://feeds.captivate.fm/british-council-teach/ 

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Production team

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Profile picture for user Mars1771

Some good points covered - the handout is certainly full of recourses.

Profile picture for user sandymillin

I tried to click on links in the show notes, but none of them seem to be working in the online or downloaded versions. Please could you update the handout? There are lots of interesting things there which I'd like to follow up on!

Hi Sandy

Thanks very much for flagging this up -  we have now updated the document and all the links should be working. We're glad you found the episode interesting!

All the best,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hi,

are there more series and episodes of 'how to teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively'?

Thanks,

Pete

Hi Pete

This is one episode in our current podcast series. Each episode deals with a different current issue in ELT. You can check out all our previous episodes here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/podcast/teaching-english

If you are interested in communicative teaching, you might find these resources useful:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/community/magazine/how-can-i-make-sure-my-class-truly-communicative

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/knowing-subject/articles/grammar-vs-lexis-or-grammar-through

All the best,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Thank you for sharing such helpful information. I like the idea of "safe rehearsal space" for this will go a long way in motivating my students to speak and it will build their confidence when they feel "safe."

My understanding of teaching communicatively is to establish a two-way communication between teacher and students, and avoid interrupting the students with a correction of the mistakes they might make.

Profile picture for user temi.esty

This podcast is an eye opener. Thank you so much.