1. THE NATURE
OF
LANGUAGE TEACHING
Peter D. Stevens

2. LLT Process is higly complex set of events
•A student
•A teacher
•An organized framework
•An institution
2 different LTL :
•Inferior
• superior
Depending on the command of the language
the learners achieve

3. The 4 principal components of the LLT process
are :
THE COMMUNITY
THE LANGUAGE TEACHING PROFESSION
THE TEACHER
THE LEARNER

4. THE COMMUNITY
Decides that tuition in such or such languages should be
available : implies a choice in foreign language
A branch of gov’t mediates
It’s an integral part of educational provision , just one
more subject
So, teachers are :
Public servants
Paid by the community
Trained at the expense of community
Supported by community

5. There are 2 elements within The Community
The Public Will ,which languages should be taught
Administration and organization ( A/O) , allocating
funds, buildings , etc
THE PUBLIC WILL creates the level of expectation
of achievement , highly related to MOTIVATION.
THE A/O LT depends on the Ministry of Education,
which is a double edged “blessing” . Difference between
INFERIOR and SUPERIOR LLT many times depends on A/O

6. THE LANGUAGE TEACHING PROFESSION
Profession as a discipline, like any other.
It is also the set of principles by which teachers organize
themselves.
Teacher trainers : they mediate between contributory
disciplines and school tasks and probs in the class
I n s t r u c t o r manipulates techniques and presents
foreign language to students
T e a c h e r : good instructor + cherishes his students
and recognizes their individuality as learners
E d u c a t o r : good teacher + is aware of the
interrelations between the techniques , the contributory
disciplines and the needs of society

7. THE TEACHER
1- The Teacher: may or may not be present
Minimum qualities of a teacher :
Nondiscouraging personality
Adequate presentation skills as a teacher
Upkeep adequate command of the language he
teaches
Upgrading of professionalism: dedication to learning
and keep in touch with new techniques and development
2- Teacher Training : criteria for selection of aspirants
and training : education , temperamental suitability and
vocation
Initial Training ( components of skills information and
theory) and Further Training

8. 3- Teaching
This is the element which has been given the most
importance lately, but this is not unique
Approaches
Methodology ( use of techniques)
Syllabus design
Materials production
Testing
Types of teaching

9. 4- Constraints
Low expectations of success by teacher, system, parents ,
etc
Unattainable objectives
Confusion of aims
Physical, organizationalor psychological constraints ,
generally mistakes in the O/A
Insufficient time
Poor materials not compensated by good teachers
Inadequate teacher training
Incompetent class teaching and lack of interest in
learners

10. THE LEARNER
He has a profile of characteristics which make him individual,
different from other learners
DIFFERENCES:
 age
willingness to give time and effort
special language abilities
concentration
previous linguistic experience
 general education experience
self view as a language learner
learning strategies
 level of expectations of success

11. CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS
Unwilling learners are unlikely to learn, while willing learners
are likely to learn well.
Enough learning should be provided
Excellence in one area, can compensate with inadequacy in
another
The 4 components are included in success:
The Community positive attitude served by a helpful
administration
The Profession needs to provide teachers with support of
all kinds
The Teacher needs to display devolution toward his
students ( and attitude, and vocation)
The Learner needs to be willing to learn

12. TASK for next class:
Individual work
Get the copies at La Cabaña, read them thoroughly and prepare
5 smart question to ask in class, and answer them in a separate
paper.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Long, Michael H., Richards, Jack C, Methodology in TESOL, A Book
of Readings , Heinly&Heinle Publishers, USA 1987