This book provides an accessible account of teacher noticing, the process of attending to, interpreting and acting on events which occur during engagement with learners, in contexts of language teacher education. It presents an innovative study of task-based interaction and emphasizes the role of reflective practice in professional development.

This book provides an accessible, evidence-based account of how teacher noticing, the process of attending to, interpreting and acting on events which occur during engagement with learners, can be examined in contexts of language teacher education and highlights the importance of reflective practice for professional development. Central to the work is an innovative mixed-methods study of task-based interaction which was undertaken with pre-service English language teachers in Japan. Through close analyses of task interaction coupled with recall data, it illustrates the ways in which pre-service teachers noticed their student partners’ use of embodied and linguistic resources. This focus on what teachers attend to, how they interpret it, and their subsequent decisions has multiple implications for language learning and teacher development. It demonstrates the value of teacher noticing for developing rapport, supporting pupils’ language acquisition, enhancing participation, fostering reflection and guiding observation, a central feature of language teachers’ career advancement.

This book contains 40 tasks of two types: discussion tasks and classroom-based tasks.

This Element is a guide to task-based language teaching (TBLT), for language instructors, teacher educators, and other interested parties. The work first provides clear definitions and principles related to communication task design. It then explains how tasks can inform all stages of curriculum development. Diverse, localized cases demonstrate the scope of task-based approaches. Recent research illustrates the impact of task design (complexity, mode) and task implementation (preparation, interaction, repetition) on various second language outcomes. The Element also describes particular challenges and opportunities for teachers using tasks. The epilogue considers the potential of TBLT to transform classrooms, institutions, and society.

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) is being encouraged as part of a major overhaul of the entire school languages curriculum in New Zealand. However, teachers often struggle with understanding what TBLT is, and how to make TBLT work in classrooms. Using the stories that emerged from a series of interviews with teachers (the curriculum implementers) and with advisors (the curriculum leaders), this book highlights the possibilities for TBLT innovation in schools. It also identifies the constraints, and proposes how these might be addressed. The result is a book that, whilst rooted in a particular local context, provides a valuable sourcebook of teacher stories that have relevance for a wide range of people working in a diverse range of contexts. This book will be of genuine interest to all those who wish to understand more about TBLT innovation, and the opportunities and challenges it brings.

This book helps second language teachers use theories in their practice, exploring in concrete and practical ways the intersections between teachers, learners, and institutions, and theories of teaching, theories of learning, and theories of language. These intersections provide language teachers with critical insights on how to deal with professional complexities and practical guidance on how to develop appropriate pedagogical practice. By focusing on theories of teaching, the authors give readers the tools to create a clear image of the kind of teacher they wish to be. By exploring theories of learning, they promote the formation of teachers' personal theories which allow them to identify their own areas of special interest in learner achievement and enrichment. By examining theories of language, the book shows how administrators and teachers can use theories to identify course goals and plan priorities for class time. Using Theories for Second Language Teaching and Learning treats theory as a concept in its own right and promotes knowing theory as a means of teacher discovery, reflection, and learning through case studies, which are descriptions and analyses of teachers thinking and acting in classrooms and in the institutions in which they work. Every chapter presents case studies with examples from the teaching of different languages, including Chinese, English, French, German, and Korean. An array of theories from multiple disciplines are featured and reflective projects are offered that lead readers to discover the importance and role of theory in daily professional life.

The book provides a flexible framework for helping teachers on in-service education and development programmes to investigate topics in their classrooms that are relevant to them. It also offers a wealth of ideas and activities, designed to help them develop professional knowledge, skills and attitudes.