Beaconhouse English Language Test

BEACONHOUSE SCHOOL SYSTEM

English Language Development Programme

 

 Rationale:

 

The current English Language Development (ELD) programme places a great emphasis upon the development of language skills through activities centred upon grammar, Received Pronunciation, and basic, everyday English. Through this programme, teachers are given face-to- face opportunities to develop and strengthen their English language structures and form, while also learning various language functions to increase their linguistic repertoire.

However, since the inception and initial design of the current ELD programme, there have been many changes in the teaching paradigms surrounding adult English language teaching and learning. Adult English language learning programmes are now strongly purpose driven, with language activities centred on context-embedded activities, aiding in the development of specific language skills and register.

In addition to this, the systemic requirements of Beaconhouse have grown to encompass a substantial national and international footprint, with needs now outgrowing existing language programmes that are being offered to teachers. As the system continuously progresses, so must our teachers, in order to meet the rigorous school demands that they face on a daily basis. Based on system-wide feedback received at various meetings and conferences, the need for a revised English Language Development programme is now greater than ever. A new language development programme is needed to help our teachers develop lifelong language competency including 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, packaged in a training programme that will enhance a teachers teaching and linguistic repertoire. Through a revised programme, which takes these needs into consideration, teachers can gain contextually-embedded language skills with classroom relevant content.

As Beaconhouse moves towards an ever increasing research driven organization, we must ensure that our teachers are linguistically equipped to tackle the daily needs of communicating with their learners, parents, their peers, and other members of their professional networks. Through the revised English Language Development programme, teachers have the opportunity to develop linguistic capabilities while bolstering their knowledge of teaching pedagogy, subject material, and workplace register. The development of a language encompasses both accuracy and fluency. Usually, most language development programmes focus primarily on the former by reducing errors, fixing grammar and sentence structure, and developing proper pronunciation. Eventually, however, language development must move towards developing expressive and receptive fluency.

By promoting a content-based communicative instructional setting, the new ELD programme will provide an avenue for teachers to develop accuracy and fluency through material that is relevant to them. In doing so, we will build upon traditional language teaching models used in the existing programme and move towards interactive guided practice and experiential learning for our teachers to experience the English language in all its forms.

 

Philosophy:       

    

The new ELD programme merges the twin linguistic skills of communication and accuracy through offline and online components that prioritize each skill differently. Studies reveal that “simply focusing on grammar does not lead to increased grammatical competence. A focus on communication, however, does lead to more competence” (Lightbown & Spada, 2011, p. 142). To this end, the new ELD programme does not side-line vital language strands and solely focus on grammar and Received Pronunciation. The online programme will deal primarily with the development of accuracy-based language skills, while the offline programme will focus primarily upon developing language fluency through classroom relevant material. Thus, the English Language Development Programme focuses on the holistic development of language skills in an experiential learning context that is both engaging and useful for teachers.

 

Programme Aims:

 

This programme envisages the development of the linguistic confidence of teachers, who are identified and enrolled in the revised ELD programme, giving them the tools they need to be self-assured educators with sound knowledge of relevant teaching pedagogy and subject specific awareness. Through the twin language skills of communication and accuracy, this programme aims to:

• improve language accuracy with respect to reducing errors in grammar, syntax, form, and function
• develop language fluency through increased communication and transmitting ideas
• cultivate teacher knowledge in the domains of teaching and learning pedagogy, subject specific content, and advances in global education
• inspire teacher confidence with respect to linguistic capability and classroom-relevant knowledge
• promote the use of Business English and vocabulary in professional teaching, learning, and administrative contexts