H+is+for+homework

= = Adapted from: = = Thornbury, S. (2010, 8 15). H is for homework. Retrieved 12 10, 2014, from An A- Z of ELT: Scott Thornbury's blog: @http://scottthornbury.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/guest-blog-h-is-for-homework/

= = = = =**Guest blog: H is for Homework **= 17**04**2011 This week’s post comes from my friend, Rob Haines in Oregon (USA). Rob is currently a curriculum designer and ESL instructor for a program serving low-income scholars and community leaders from Latin America and Haiti in Oregon. He has an MSc TESOL from Aston University (UK), and co-moderates the Dogme discussion list where he periodically posts descriptions of his materials-light, learner-centred classes. Rob kindly contributed the following post, where he starts by asking: //Is homework really necessary?// “As a language teacher one cannot escape the __feeling __ that language lessons in and of __themselves__ are not sufficient to bring language learning about and to lead to eventual proficiency” (van Lier 1996, p. 42). If you __agree__, then you’re likely to supplement classroom learning with homework, that is, tasks to be completed between classes. Van Lier (and others) would __maintain__ that “between-class-learning” should complement classroom learning, __particularly__ if learners attend classes only a few hours a week, so __that__ the time in between classes affords further learning opportunities. As van Lier (1996) __puts__ it: //“If the lessons – whether they are once a week, once a day, or more frequent than that – are the only occasions on which students are engaged with the language, progress will either not occur or be exceedingly slow. The students’ minds must occupy themselves with the language between lessons as well as in lessons, if improvements are to happen” (ibid.). //

**//What sort of tasks are best? //** __Assuming __ you are not obligated to assign specific tasks, the kind of homework you set is probably up to you. As if by default, homework often becomes the set of exercises at the end of a course book unit. __Understandably__, busy teachers might tend to rely on prefabricated assignments for homework. But saving time this way all too __often__ fails to connect what happens in class with students’ lives in ‘the real world’. __Rather __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;"> than reaching for a course book or a ready-made handout, a better resource might be the learners themselves. Working within the parameters of your context, while respecting learners’ attitudes towards the role of the teacher, you can facilitate, organize, and coax as necessary to involve learners in the design and execution of homework tasks.</range id="534601632_2"> <span style="color: #515151; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">If you’d like to come up with your own tasks, Steve Darn, over at the British Council Web site [], lists a set of principles to guide teachers through the process of creating meaningful tasks beyond the classroom. //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">The take-home message // __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Considering __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;"> how research underscores the need for social interaction and engagement with our immediate surroundings, homework that affords language learners opportunities to explore and investigate English (or any other target language) through meaningful tasks are likely to be most effective and enjoyable for all. **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Reference: ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">van Lier, L. 1996. //Interaction in the Language Curriculum: Awareness, Autonomy, & Authenticity.// London: Harlow. __**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Phrases **__ A s a … teacher one cannot escape the feeling that … … in and of themselves… If you agree, then you’re likely to … Van Lier (and others) would maintain that … particularly if ...  … so that … As van Lier (1996) puts it: “…” Assuming you are not … Understandably, …. might tend to … … all too often …(+ negative idea) Rather than …ing …, a better ….might be ...  media type="youtube" key="sTL6pgUbxyE" width="560" height="315"
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Here are a few tips: **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Turn homework into a peer-teaching opportunity by asking learners to read and check each other’s work
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Discourage learners from simply copying information off the Internet by setting tasks that are highly personalized, such as preparing a presentation about their families, making a list of their favorite foods, describing the flat, house or dormitory where they live, etc.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Pair learners into ‘study buddies’, so that they can work on a homework task together
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Arrange ‘scavenger hunts’ or similar tasks with an element of mystery and surprise
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Develop personalized learning plans that allow learners to set goals as well as demonstrate and assess their progress
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Maintain and utilize a collection box where learners can store vocabulary, grammar questions, and ideas they have gathered outside class
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Ask learners to keep a journal
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt;">Have learners design quizzes