Workshops on a variety of topics convened by AMEP Research Centre academics and associates are offered in all states and regions. The following list of workshops are available in 2008 and Service Providers requiring these topics are invited to contact the AMEP Research Centre with their request. The abstracts below offer a general description and the convenor will customise the topic according to local need.

Some of the topics of half-day or full-day workshops available in 2008 include:

• Assessment principles and practice
  
• Teaching pronunciation
• Teaching grammar
• Content based instruction
• Intercultural communication and language teaching
• Identity and language learning
• Teaching disparate learner groups
• Language teaching with the Internet
• Teaching English for employment
• Teaching listening
• Teaching reading
• Teaching vocabulary
• Teaching speaking
• World Englishes paradigm
  

For more information, please contact:

Liz Stokes
AMEP Research Centre PD Administrator
Phone: +612 9850 9645
Fax: +612 9850 7849
email: amep@nceltr.mq.edu.au

PD Workshop Abstracts

Assessment for low-level learners

Participants will explore strategies for assessing low-level and preliterate learners developed in a recent AMEP RC research project. The session includes discussion of practical classroom activities and assessment materials.

Teaching pronunciation

Pronunciation is an integral part of 'learning to speak English'. In this workshop participants will explore goal setting, integrating pronunciation into course design, intelligibility, and assessment. The presenter will demonstrate teaching strategies and participants will apply these in practical activities.

Teaching grammar

This workshop offers an overview of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), the theory of language on which the CSWE curriculum is based. The session includes a discussion of the key elemenets of SFG and how it can be applied in day to day teaching. Group exercises will provide practice in applying the principles of SFG to teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Content based instruction

Participants will explore approaches to content based instruction, with hands-on exercises for developing and refining units of work that combine specific content and language teaching.

Intercultural communication and language teaching

In this workshop we will explore intercultural communication and its implications for language teaching and learning. How we something matters as much as what we say. Pragmatic and paralinguistic features are as culture-specific as any other aspect of language but we often consider them to be universal and this can result in misunderstandings. An understanding of pragmatics is a key element of communication in a multicultural society.

Identity and language learning

Everyone knows that language learners do not come into the language classrooms as empty slates. They bring with their first languages, their gender identities, professional backgrounds, their migrations experiences, their prior education, their beliefs about language learning and many other aspects of their identity. In this workshop, we will explore the challenges of acception language learners for who they are and the ways inwhich their identities can be harnessed in the lagnuage classroom to enhance their learning experience.

Teaching disparate learner groups

This workshop draws on research and practical experience to explore strategies that work for managing learning classes of disparate profiles, levels and language learning experience. Participants will share their experiences, strategies and successes.

Using the Internet in language teaching

How can teachers use the Internet for language learning and communications? Participants will review available resources on the Internet, and explore strategies for integrating e-learning into their language teaching programs. The workshop provides hands-on experience and practical activities. (Computer lab required for this workshop.)

Teaching English for employment

This workshop considers the characteristics of workplace communication on the basis of sata from real workplaces. We will explore how real workplace interactions can be used in the ESL classroom. We will also consider how workplace training and English language teaching are related and can benefit from each other.

Teaching reading

This session will explore current theories of reaching and epxlore their application in an adult ESL settlement program. Particpants will explore current theories of reading instruction, and draw on these to develop effective programs for the teaching of reading. The workshop includes practical, hands-on activities.

Teaching vocabulary

One of the greatest challenges for language learners is to develop a wide vocabulary that will serve them well in a variety of contexts. This workshop will outline approaches to developing vocabulary resources for listening, speaking, reading and writing in a second language.

Teaching speaking

In this workshop participants explore different approaches to teaching spoken discourse and consider ways they can be applied to classroom teaching in the AMEP. The session utilises materials and activities that promote the development of spoken discourse skills.

World Englishes paradigm: Its implications for language teaching and learning in the AMEP

In this workshop, we will explore the paradigm of world Englishes (WE) and its implications for language teaching and learning in general and in the AMEP in particular. The session will examine in detail varieties of English and aspects that characterise a variety. Moreover, we will discuss the pedagogical questions raised by the language issues that skilled migrants to Australia face, and how these affect language teaching and learning in the AMEP in relation to the WE paradigm.