Integrating language skills

Our principal goal is to have students understand somewhat of spoken and written English and that is why  we need to include language in context, to build language awareness and to include skills in our lessons. In order to reach this goal, much practice is necessary; however, our students have limited opportunity to observe English and practice outside the classroom. Therefore when teaching a language, we have to talk about skills. They are normally referred to the four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

In the past, teachers followed a sequence in order to teach a foreign language. They said that students could not speak if they did not hear anything (first listening, and then speaking). In the seventies, it was common to teach and give practice in each of these skills in isolation. And even worse, writing and listening were omitted. This happened because of many factors; English was (  is still ) taught in two hours , students did not have books, teachers had to follow the curriculum, etc.

Nowadays, learning a foreign language is seen as a language of today’s World. Learners today are more likely than ever to use English to communicate with  non-native speakers in travel, business, and work.

Rebecca Oxford from University of Maryland states something important about integrating skills in our lessons.

 We need to keep in mind the following:                                                             

1. Teaching style             
2.   Learner motivation                                                                 
3.   Classroom setting   
4.   Language teaching               

Because students need to use L2 when they finish high school, teachers have to integrate language, context and language skills as well. Five things have to be considered for integrating skills in our lessons:

·         Get  information on how to integrate skills

·         See  and evaluate the language skills

·         Check the materials you have and if they include listening, speaking, reading and writing.

·         Do not teach   one skill in isolation  but integrate two or three of them.

·         Teach language learning strategies

In conclusion, including language skills in our lessons will give learners opportunities to experience   and notice the language.