Anthony Pantekoek - Bookmarks

WU WEI

The effortless acquisition curriculum attempts to follow the Taoist concept of “wu wei”, which can roughly be translated as “not forcing”, “not strivng”, or “effortless effort”. Wu wei hints at an approach that is akin to going with the grain rather than against it. It is action in accord with nature.

Alan Watts uses the metaphor of piloting a boat to illustrate the difference between wu wei and the standard approach of striving. When piloting a boat, one might choose to row. This is a tried and true means of getting from point A to point B in a boat. It requires a huge expenditure of energy and effort, but eventually it does work. However, the wise pilot will raise a sail instead of rowing. By using the wind, by adjusting his sail to it and tacking when necessary, the sailor goes much farther much faster with much less effort. Without doubt, sailing is a much lazier way of piloting a boat. It is also incredibly more effective and efficient.

The metaphor is equally applicable to language teaching. Yes, it is possible to achieve proficiency in a foreign language through grammar-translation, drills, memorizing vocabulary, and analysis. But this is akin to rowing. It requires a tremendous amount of mental effort. Also, most people find these activities to be boring, difficult, and tedious. Effortless Acquisition is a means of sailing to language proficiency. Without a doubt, it is a much lazier way of studying and teaching a language. It is also incredibly more effective and efficient, as a mountain of research shows. Furthermore, most students (and teachers) find the approach fun, interesting, and enjoyable.
post by pantekoeka on 2007-02-23

The Focused Rewrite Technique:
Effortless Acquisition relies on the Focused Rewrite technique to teach writing. An important point is that writing is not taught until students have demonstrated good listening and reading skills. Students write a short essay on a topic of their choosing. By choosing their own topic, students are able to write about subjects which are important to them. Once finished, students present their essay to the instructor. Then the focused rewrite process begins
nteractive Reading:
The Interactive Reading technique is a research proven technique for rapidly improving students’ general reading proficiency, as well as general English ability. The technique uses student-chosen passages. It is a group activity in which the class, guided by the teacher, explores an authentic text together (Hastings, 2004).
Total Physical Response (TPR)
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TPR was developed by Dr. James Asher as a means of delivering comprehensible input in a natural and intuitive way. TPR seeks to imitate the natural acquisition processes used by infants. Long before they speak, infants engage in numerous “language-body dialogues” with caretakers.
Beginning students, like infants,
go through a silent period in which they are comprehending the language but are not speaking
> (Asher, 2004)
The final phase is for one or more star students to retell the story from the different perspective.
The next phase of TPRS is for a star student to retell the story to the class.
After the first telling, the volunteer students sit down and the teacher retells the story.
Third, the teacher introduces the story for the first time.
The second step in TPRS is for the teacher to test comprehension of these item using commands or questions.
The first step in the TPRS process is for the teacher to pre-teach key vocabulary that will be used in the story.
TPR-Storytelling (TPRS) is designed to move students beyond commands into more complex language.
one or more students would be given commands but the teacher would not model.
First, the teacher gives new commands and models them while the students watch.
Next, the teacher works the commands together with the whole class.
4. Speech emerges naturally.
“affective filter”
3. Anxiety has a negative effect on language acquisition.
2. Comprehensible input is language which is just a little above the students’ current level of proficiency.
1. Languages are learned through comprehensible (understood) input.
The Natural Approach (Krashen, 1985) provides the theoretical underpinnings of the Effortless Acquisition curriculum.
The final phase of the process is the use of what are called “novel commands”. Novel commands are unexpected, funny, or strange commands.