Using Functional Speaking Exercises to Increase Student Accuracy and Confidence | Paul Thomas
By consistently providing students with a high volume of opportunities to practice high-frequency constructions that elicit meaningful output, instructors can guide English language learners to build accuracy at a faster rate, which increases student confidence. In this interactive presentation, participants will engage with exercises that can transform their classroom approach.
Learning Outcomes:
-Attendees will leave with at least three easily implemented speaking exercises to use for beginner through advanced levels
-Attendees will become aware the clear benefits of utilizing a functional language training approach
-Attendees will become aware of five “rules of thumb” for successful language training
Paul Thomas
Paul G.J. Thomas has been working in language training since 2002, when he started teaching developmental composition to non-native speakers at St. Augustine College in Chicago.
He was an adult education ESL instructor at several City Colleges of Chicago for twelve years in addition to teaching ESL, TOEFL & IELTS prep, and business communications at a private language school for more than ten years.
As an administrator he has been an adult education / ESL manager for Malcolm X College, Oakton Community College, and Daley College – Arturo Velasquez Institute. Currently he is the Adult Education and Literacy Manager at Trellus (formerly Asian Human Services) in Chicago.
Over the past few years he has presented on his language training approach at conferences nationwide, which include the Illinois TESOL-Bilingual Education Conference, New York TESOL, Alabama-Mississippi TESOL, IACEA, and the ACTFL Conference in New Orleans this past November. Paul holds an M.A. in Linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University.