A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School

Book excerpt: How can you effectively motivate young people to engage with foreign language learning? How can young people engage with new ideas and cultural experiences within and outside the classroom? The new edition of A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School offers straightforward advice and inspiration for training teachers, NQTs and teachers in their early professional development. Written by a team of expert professionals, it offers a wide range of strategies for successful teaching in the languages classroom. Key topics covered include: Helping pupils develop better listening skills Effective speaking activities Choosing the best texts and technology for reading skills Teaching grammar Internet tools and services for teaching and learning Integrating formative assessment The intercultural dimension of language teaching Collaborating with primary schools and successful transition Teaching Arabic and Mandarin Working with TAs and FLAs Classroom research and reflective practice This fully revised and updated second edition includes new chapters on homework, motivation and less widely taught languages, while the core sections on reading and writing, planning, and culture and diversity have been significantly updated to reflect important changes in research, practice and policy. A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School extends the popular Learning to Teach Foreign Languages in the Secondary School by providing detailed examples of theory in practice, based on the most up-to-date research and practice, as well as links to relevant sources supporting evidence-informed practice. It is an essential compendium of support and ideas for all those embarking upon their first steps in a successful career in teaching foreign languages.