UNIT 3 PHONOLOGY

Phonology is an important field that helps us to differentiate the sound of the vowels, syllable etc used in language in order to achieve accuracy in communication. As we are talking about features of phonology, those are phonemes (the smallest unit of sound) for example the plurals in the nouns (books, chairs,tables) word stress we say the word with greater energy. Diphtongs movement from one vowel sound to another in a single syllable and Voiced Sounds ( the voice vibration is used) and Unvoiced Sounds (without using words).

Generally this subject is taught in high levels, but would be better to teach this since beginner levels because children have an ear for sounds and languages. I think the teaching of sounds first would help learners to develop their listening and speaking skills that ir harder for non native speakers. On this way, they wouldn't make mistakes in sentences stress at the moment to speak. As I said before children have a good ear for languages so, In the same way  Hallie Kay Yopp and Ruth Helen Yopp  state: "Children learn about print when they see it used in a variety of contexts and for a variety of purposes. So too can children benefit from being surrounded by the sounds of language—as they sing, chant, listen to books, and play games that focus on sound manipulation" According to that, I think is the way how I could apply phonology with my students obvously I wont give them only contents it has to be through games and songs, which will give better results because they will be directly experiencing sounds.

After that , I think is appropriate leave you some pictures that show the phonetyc symbols  and how those are produced and also I'm including a useful video about a phonological activity for children that maybe we put in practice.

Bibliography:

https://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200901/BTJPhonologicalAwareness.pdf

(Yoppnes, H. (2009, January 1). Phonological Awareness Is Child’s Play! Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200901/BTJPhonologicalAwareness.pdf)

UNIT 2 LEXIS

Lexis refers simply all words set of words that you can know and say. For example : guitar, computer, mother etc and all of them have a meaning.

Every word that you use to communicate will have a meaning according to the context that you give it and also its meaning depends on the affixation that you do in the word for example: instruct- instruction, only the short affix "tion" makes a big distintion in meaning. Also lexis is formed by Compound Nouns which we can get their meaning being together, like heavy rain, it means there is a heavy rain in some place, which wouldnt mean the same only saying one word at once. Another word necessary to check is chunks which refers to language that occurs in semi (fixed) units learnt as one piece like (have a good trip, my name is..). Generally is necessary that students memorize chunks patterns to get accostumed to the language. For contrast to the words shown before are Idioms which we get its meaning from expressions created by certain group of people and its meaning is difficult to find in dictionaries because we can translate it literaly. For example:  (to have green fingers, to be under the weather) and finally ; False friends, when students relate similar words of different language for its similar form like : Embarazado -embarrassed homophones (words with same pronunciation) and homonyms (words with same spelling and pronunciation) are varieties of English are other ways in which words can relate to one another. 

If you think all of those are relevant in  teaching; of course yes, because students must know how words are form in the case of affixation or to know that when appear two nouns together could be a compound noun. When learners know the origin of  words, vowels, phrases they dont usually tend to make mistakes because are awareness of what they know.

Following I share you a very useful website for teachers which teach us how expand students lexis.

Milnes, C. (2014, July 30). Ten ways to expand students' lexis. 

Retrieved from http://www.ihlondon.com/blog/posts/2014/ten-ways-to-expand-students-lexis/

UNIT 1 GRAMMAR

This unit is talking about grammar, it is the main part of  communication and writting competence because it is the way how organize, change , combine words or groups of words to make meaning. I think as english teachers is essential to manage grammar its uses and forms  in order to use in the classroom with a variety of methodologies

Teaching grammar is a hard work where the teacher has to domain the content like the nine parts of speech and its function because he/she is in charged to guide to the learners in order to form grammatical structure that would be the main goal for them,to be able to form sentences applying all learned before. According to Laran Joseph says "Grammar is a very important thing to get right, and teachers should take extra care to impart proper grammar to all their students" so, I'm totally agree with that, because with the correct guide since the beginning, students won't get problems later  As a result of that they will convey or communicate  meaning developing accuracy through the time.

On the other hand, it is necessary that the teacher makes them practice exercises focus on form where students can differentiate use and form the second conditional as an example. On this way, with a correct routine of exercises you will fullfill student's achievements about grammar in EFL classes.

For a better understanding I have decided to include some picture about grammar and a video which give us advices how to learn grammar , also he mentions some issues about learning and teaching a language which I consider important to share with you.

Bibliography:

https://blog.udemy.com/how-to-teach-grammar/

(Joseph, L. (n.d.). How to Teach Grammar: What Methods Are Quickest and Easiest? Retrieved January 1, 2015.)