Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen

Rating:
Summary: Give this book a chance!
Review: I must disagree with the reviewer who could not find applicability in her secondary French classroom. I have found Lee and VanPatten's approach to teaching grammar quite enlightening, and it has prompted me to change the way I will structure such activities in my middle school Spanish classes. Considering the considerable research they presented in support of their theories regarding structured input, there is little reason we should continue with traditional grammar instruction without even giving processing instruction methods a chance. It is understandable that moving from an explanatory, resarch-based text toward immediate application in the classroom can be confusing and frustrating. Try viewing sample copies of the text books the authors have worked on, ?Sab?as qu?...? or Vistazos, to see how they created structured input activites in beginning level Spanish. Perhaps this could assist in creating similar activities in whatever language you teach.

Rating:
Summary: Give this book a chance!
Review: I must disagree with the reviewer who could not find applicability in her secondary French classroom. I have found Lee and VanPatten's approach to teaching grammar quite enlightening, and it has prompted me to change the way I will structure such activities in my middle school Spanish classes. Considering the considerable research they presented in support of their theories regarding structured input, there is little reason we should continue with traditional grammar instruction without even giving processing instruction methods a chance. It is understandable that moving from an explanatory, resarch-based text toward immediate application in the classroom can be confusing and frustrating. Try viewing sample copies of the text books the authors have worked on, ¿Sabías qué...? or Vistazos, to see how they created structured input activites in beginning level Spanish. Perhaps this could assist in creating similar activities in whatever language you teach.

Rating:
Summary: Useful for new students of second language acquisition
Review: I read this as a master's candidate in a TESL in Washington, DC. I found it relatively easy to read. Still, it's academically written and focuses on theories and research done on second language acquisition. Topics covered include grammar in communicative language, speaking, reading and writing. This book is for those who want to take a step forward into academia and research in teaching methodology.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for college teachers but not secondary ones.
Review: I used this book for a graduate level course on Foreign Language Teaching Methodology given by my school district. I am a secondary level French teacher. The theories of instruction that this book explores are very enlightening, however the practical examples it offers are more suitable for university level instruction. My biggest complaint with this text is that the examples of communicative language teaching methods it offers are in English and are too vague to lend themselves to practical application. One is left wanting more specifics than the examples give, especially when the text advocates such activities as "brainstorming" or group input activities. For example, how can one brainstorm in the target language when that is precisely what one is trying to teach? I made lots of notes in my copy of the text, but I have not had success in applying what I've learned in my classroom.