Teaching Programme - Cambridge University Press

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|Smart Planet 3 |
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|Ben Goldstein & Ceri Jones |
3rd ESO
Teaching Programme |INDEX |
1 Teaching Methodology
1.1 Theoretical Basis
1.2 What does Smart Planet offer?
1.3 Components 2 Objectives 3 Competences
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Smart Planet's contribution to acquiring competences
3.3 Competences in Smart Planet
3.4. Learning styles 4 Contents
4.1 Contents blocks
4.2 Core contents 5 Learning standards 6 Assessment
6.1 Presentation
6.2 Assessment criteria
6.3 Assessment in Smart Planet
6.4 Assessment tools in Smart Planet
6.5. Qualification criteria
7. Educational needs 7.1. Introduction to the concept of attention to diversity{ut1
7.2. Attention to diversity in Smart Planet 8 Development of teaching units 8.1 Contents
Block 1. Comprehension of oral texts
Block 2. Production of oral texts
Block 3. Comprehension of written texts
Block 4. Production of written texts . Linguistic knowledge
- Communication functions
- Vocabulary
- Syntactic-discursive contents
- Graphic patterns and sounds
- Classroom language . Learning strategies
. Sociocultural and sociolinguistic aspects
8.2 Competences: Descriptors - Activities
8.3 Social awareness
8.4 Cross-curricular links
8.5 Assessment criteria
8.6 Contents - Assessment criteria - Competences Annex - KEY COMPETENCES ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
|1 INTRODUCTION TO THE METHOD |
1.1 Theoretical Basis Smart Planet is a method for teaching English designed for Compulsory
Secondary Education (ESO - Educación Secundaria Obligatoria), achieving the
objectives established by the curriculum for and preparing pupils for the
Cambridge Preliminary English Test (PET). Bearing these objectives in mind,
it is important to underline the practical nature of this method, allowing
pupils to complete [1] this academic stage having learned enough to be able
to take an internationally recognised exam previous to the First
Certificate. In this way, the method meets a double objective: for one
thing, giving pupils training about indispensable and practical strategies,
skills and abilities for learning a foreign language, and, for another,
allowing them to study for an internationally accepted exam, PET. Bearing
in mind the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages(CEFR), the
method's objective is that pupils finish ESO with almost B1 standard
language competence and, specifically, Smart Planet 3 has been drawn up to
cover A2 and A2+ standards. Smart Planet is designed to cover both pupils' and teachers' needs in a
complete, dynamic, entertaining and rigorous fashion. The aim is not just
to consolidate already acquired knowledge but also to be aware of it
practical use. In the same way, the method has been written in such a way
that pupils can understand and accept the fact that learning a second
language, in this case English, is a continual process to be carried out
over time, which is one of CEFR's basic principles. In addition, Smart
Planet helps pupils to prepare each exam strategy gradually and in depth,
which allows them to develop a full, rigorous view of the linguistic
characteristics of English by using the four skills. The teaching approach guarantees learning, the revision and consolidation
of different aspects of oral and written language using carefully prepared
material which, for example, encourages an approach to grammar based on
deduction. As mentioned above, this method provides teachers with the
material they need to help and direct pupils to obtain a consolidated
intermediate level in line with terms established by CEFR. In order to do
this in a dynamic, attractive way, the topics which the units are based
around have been carefully chosen to be interesting for the pupils,
connected with their surroundings and/or real life. Carefully prepared,
attractive presentation, combined with the use of strategies, activities
and various different approaches, contributes towards pupils' motivation. Thanks to the method's methodological guidance, pupils will study the
curricular contents in a simple, effective and gradual way, following a
clear structure and a variety of activities which will consolidate
practical as well as theoretical knowledge. The four skill are developed in
this method in such a way that pupils can understand (using the deductive
approach already mentioned) and assimilate contents not only to study for
PET but also to use English in a practical way in real situations. The method's most important facets include: . Clearly presenting objectives.
. Linking contents and activities with key competences.
. Choosing topics carefully in order to motivate pupils and, at
the same time, make learning meaningful for them.
. Providing many opportunities for paying attention to diversity.
. A natural way to use what is learned about the four language
skills.
. Encouraging pupils to be able to work by themselves.
. Emphasis on the deductive method as a mechanism for pupils'
learning and assimilating grammar contents.
. Making extensive, well programmed use of videos as a teaching
resource.
. Special attention to Spanish speakers' typical mistakes when
learning English. There are nine units in Smart Planet, each of them centred around topics
which, as mentioned above, help to motivate pupils thanks to their current
relevance, because they are connected with pupils' interests or because
they deal with daily life and, as such, are relevant. Specially attention
is paid to revision as a learning strategy. To start with, pupils revise
contents which they have learned in the previous Starter Units. There is
also a Review section at the end of each unit. Finally, there is a Unit
Review... every three units whose objective is to reinforce the objectives
studied in those units. There is also a Get it right! section every three
units. These deal with the typical mistakes which Spanish-speaking learners
of English as a second language make and which have been examined during
these units. Each unit includes specific sections for developing each of the language
skills. There are also two grammar sections: Grammar 1 and Grammar 2, whose
contents are the theoretical basis for the method and make it easier to
revise the Grammar Reference at the end of the book. Smart Planet is designed to make it possible to incorporate new grammar
concepts gradually, increase vocabulary and consolidate better language
abilities. The method also makes sure that learning is meaningful, which
means that pupils are motivated by seeing how important English is and,
consequently, how important learning it is, bearing in mind both personal
factors (full personal development, as described by the legislation) and
work-related factors (for example, the key competence "Sense of initiative
and entrepreneurship": see below). As we have said, this method's objectives are to cover pupils' real,
objective needs in terms of CEFR parameters. The objective is to stimulate
continual, practical learning which also stimulated pupils (at the current
time and for the continual learning involved in acquiring a second
language). This method also helps pupils to study for PET, as we have said,
an internationally recognised exam which is preliminary to Cambridge First
Certificate. 1.2 What Smart Planet
contributes
The materials in Smart Planet have been put together with the attitude that
the pupils are not mere language learners. The pupils are taken to be, at
all times, explorers who are investigating every facet of the process of
learning. It is for this reason that Smart Planet is a method for teaching English
which is eminently practical and is based on two basic approaches in terms
of method: 1. An interactive approach, focusing on teaching the use (and
development) of language skills. 2. Deduction as one of the pillars of learning. To do this, the sequence of concepts has been carefully prepared, as has
the presentation of contents, the logic of the work carried out in the
activities and the activities in themselves. Likewise, the young target
audience for the method has been taken into account when choosing images,
texts, audios and videos, along with material design and graphic
presentation. Smart Planet takes into account the need to create a positive learning
atmosphere in the classroom. Making this a reality will depend, to a large
extent, on each teacher's ability to open paths of communication with the
pupils and so their good mutual understanding; it will also depend on the
creation of a motivating framework of mutual interaction between teacher
and pupil, pupil and pupil. And Smart Planet takes this into account by
presenting the tasks in a clear way, addressing each concept using various
different exercises and not just repetition, encouraging pupils to