âApproaching the realâ : an historical and autobiographical account of foreign language teaching in a middle school
This historical narrative provides the account of a professional life as a foreign language teacher and the personal development which is part of this process. Central to this thesis is the introduction of a series of language learning initiatives to address the challenges of teaching foreign languages in a middle school. The title of the research 'approaching the real' is based on the consideration that the target language and culture is absent from the classroom and that our efforts in teaching a language are focused on the need to represent an absent reality. As a 'translated' and adapted form of the target language there is a need therefore to 'approach the real' and drama, (through role-play and improvisation work) is seen as a mechanism for reducing the distance from the target language and culture. This thesis is also, however, about providing opportunities for pupils to 'experience the real' through participation in a French exchange. Here the pupil is transported into a different environment and routine and there are problems associated with culture shock' and the need to adjust to differences. Pupils are given a different perspective on what previously, they are likely to have taken for granted.
Daniels, John Michael
âApproaching the realâ : an historical and autobiographical account of foreign language teaching in a middle school. This historical narrative provides the account of a professional life as a foreign language teacher and the personal development which is part of this process. Central to this thesis is the introduction of a series of language learning initiatives to address the challenges of teaching foreign languages in a middle school. The title of the research 'approaching the real' is based on the consideration that the target language and culture is absent from the classroom and that our efforts in teaching a language are focused on the need to represent an absent reality. As a 'translated' and adapted form of the target language there is a need therefore to 'approach the real' and drama, (through role-play and improvisation work) is seen as a mechanism for reducing the distance from the target language and culture. This thesis is also, however, about providing opportunities for pupils to 'experience the real' through participation in a French exchange. Here the pupil is transported into a different environment and routine and there are problems associated with culture shock' and the need to adjust to differences. Pupils are given a different perspective on what previously, they are likely to have taken for granted.
approaching real historical autobiographical account foreign_language teach middle school historical_narrative provide_account professional life foreign_language teacher personal development part process central introduction series language_learn initiative address_challenge teach foreign_language middle school title approaching real base consideration target_language culture absent classroom effort teach language focus need represent absent reality translated adapted form target_language need therefore approach real drama role_play work see mechanism reduce distance target_language culture also however provide_opportunity pupils experience real participation french exchange pupil transport different environment routine problem associated culture shock need adjust difference pupils give different_perspective previously likely take_grant