Sharon Ahlquist – författare

Every teacher knows that there are as many individual differences as there are pupils in the class. Meeting the needs of everyone is a challenge which calls for creativity in lesson content and teaching approach. When children are engaged and enjoying themselves, they are likely to learn more, which is a reward for any teacher. The purpose with this book is to show how English can and should be fun, for teacher and pupil alike, using examples of practical classroom tasks, linked to theories of how children learn a second language. The chapters discuss, among other things, the importance of creating a positive classroom climate, how to plan an effective English lesson, use pair/group work, and not least, how different kinds of tasks can provide evidence of learning. The book aims to demonstrate that, by varying lesson content and the way we work with it, we are able to meet the needs of every learner, regardless of individual differences. ‘English is Fun’ is intended to appeal particularly to teachers of school grades 4–6, though many of the tasks presented in the book can be adapted for both younger and older learners.

Stories and literature have an important role to play in the second language classroom, and Teaching Young Language Learners Through Stories provides a theoretical and practical approach to incorporating them in your teaching. Working with stories and literature enables the teacher to expose learners to English in ways which are engaging, resonating and meaningful, and which stimulate the imagination and creativity. Stories can appeal to all age groups, and through work which is multimodal can support learning of all proficiencies. Teaching Young Language Learners Through Stories provides theoretical support alongside practical activities to explain why and how teachers can use stories.Each chapter explores how different genres of literature can contribute to second language development, alongside practical examples. These genres include picturebooks, graded readers, graphic novels fairytales, novels and short stories. Within each chapter, the theoretical approach is first explored in more depth. It considers the characteristics of young language learners, how they learn, and how stories can provide an alternative to working with a textbook while still addressing required syllabus content and learning objectives. Then, practical examples guide the reader in using these different genres in their own teaching practice. Whilst the book primarily offers guidance and relevant suggestions for students aged 6-13, each chapter also considers how the principles can be used with older learners and adults.By using this title, teachers will understand the theoretical support (from the fields of second language acquisition and general education) and the links between theory and practice for using stories and fiction in the second language classroom. They will also learn practical ways in which they can make fuller use of stories and fiction and become able to create their own tasks and explain how these tasks contribute to second language development in their learners.This book is part of the popular Teaching English series, which bring methodology and practical ideas to your classroom.