Manuscripts for Teachers Development ProgramNo. 1 Middle School of Pingyin平阴一中英语教师培训讲义ByMbecha Ferdinand Awunglefac&David FangContentsSection 13Section 26Section 310Section 414Section 519Section 625Section 726Section 834Section 938Section 1040Section 1CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHINGDAY 1: TEACHERS BELIEFSOUTLINE:-Introduction-Teachers beliefs about learners:resisters, receptacles, raw material, clients, partners, individual explorers, democratic explorers.-Teachers beliefs about learning.-Teachers beliefs about themselves.-Conclusion.INTRODUCTIONIn this section we shall be examining teachers beliefs about learners, learning and themselves as teachers.Everybody has beliefs. These beliefs are closely linked to the individuals values, his or her views of the world and his or place in it. Teachers are greatly influenced by their beliefs. These beliefs can affect the way they plan their lessons, make decisions and their general classroom practice. Research has shown that teachers beliefs about how languages should be taught will affect their classroom action more than a particular methodology or course book recommended to them. These beliefs may be implicit or explicit.1. TEACHERS BELIEFS ABOUT LEARNERSBefore we look into the various ways teachers conceive their learners to be lets have a little exercise here. Observe the situations below and select which of them best describes your belief about learners.SITUATION 1A farmer meets his neighbor on the way to the fields. The latter has a goat with a rope tied round its neck which he is pulling hard. The goat is resisting going with its master. FARMER: Whats the matter?NEIGHBOR: This goat is very silly and stubbornFARMER: Huh?NEIGHBOR: Theres greener pasture over there but it prefers this barren field FARMER: Why dont you look for a whip? Thats the only language it understands.NEIGHBOR: What a good idea!SITUATION 2We are at a party. It is soon coming to the end. The generous host has decided to give each guest some wine to take home. He has a large jug of wine while each guest has mug. But the mugs are of unequal sizes. The size of each guests mug reflects their drinking capacity. The host thinks that it is useless to give people more than they are able to take in.SITUATION 3Z: Man, this is a great feat! I cant believe you put up this house!Y: Well, last year when I told you that I had bought land in the swamps you thought I had lost my mind.Z: I would never have believed that anything good could come from such mire.Y: All the magnificent houses you see rose from nothing. With courage and careful planning you can turn any clay into the most magnificent work of art.Z: I believe you. Thats how great sculptures and paintings were made. Cheers to your courage! (They drink up). SITUATION 4A: Good morning. Anything, please?C: Yes, Id like some oranges and apples.A: How many kilos?C: How much do you sell a kilo?A: The oranges are 3 Yuan and the apples are 2 Yuan.C: They are a little expensive. Id like four kilos of each if youd sell them for 1.8 Yuan a kilo.A: Could we say 2 Yuan?C: In that case Ill take 3 kilos of oranges and two kilos of apples.A: Thats ok. Here you go.C: How much are they altogether?A: 10 Yuan.C: Here you are.SITUATION 5FATHER: Hey children, where do you think we can go for this vacation?DECLAN: Lets visit China.FATHER: Jack, is that your opinion too?JACK: I cant figure out where we should go.MOTHER: I think China would be the best place to visit. We can go to the Great wall.FATHER: I want everybodys opinion so we can decide together how we can all benefit from our trip together.JACK: Ill go wherever everyone wants us to go.SITUATION 6GUIDE: Hello everyone! Attention please. Lets get a few points clear before we start our exploration of these exciting caves. First, Ill give each of you a map of the caves. Then Ill explain a few things about them after which the task of negotiating your way through the caves becomes entirely yours. Each of you would be given a walkie-talkie so you can always call on me for clarifications where you may face some difficulties finding your way through. Please come up one after the other and get your maps, compasses and walkie-talkies. Good luck!SITUATION 7 FOREMAN: Ok everyone. Listen to our task. We are now ready to excavate this hill to search for treasure. We shall work in groups. Each group shall set its own agenda and decide on how to work. All or part of my expertise is available for you to draw from at any moment should you need it. Otherwise, feel free to pursue your own goals as you consider appropriate for you. At the end of the exploration I expect each team to present its findings to the whole group. Good luckDISCUSSIONHere, lets examine the merits