Working with Emergent Language: Ideas and Activities for Developing Your Reactive Skills in Class

By Danny Norrington-Davies

Emerging language (EL) is any unplanned language item that arises naturally during lessons that the teacher then chooses to focus on for clarification or modification. It originally stemmed from Dogme, a popular movement that suggested not using coursebooks or set texts in class at all and working with what the students and the teacher themselves provide. EL takes on board lessons learnt from using Dogme and current teaching practices, and as a pedagogy is gaining traction year on year. Working with Emergent Language lifts the lid on this emerging pedagogy, by making teachers more aware of what EL is and how they can learn to work with it more effectively and confidently. It starts by drawing on the literature and the authors' own experiences to demonstrate how working with EL is essential for language acquisition to occur and therefore a skill that language teachers should possess. To show how teachers can work with EL and at different stages of a lesson, you will be introduced to a new framework of teacher intervention types and learn how it works in practice through authentic transcripts and classroom stories. The second part of this book provides awareness-raising, practice, and reflective tasks to help new and experienced teachers develop their skills with EL. The final chapter addresses typical questions and issues about working with emergent language that teachers often ask, which dispel common conceptions suggesting that working with EL is difficult or inappropriate in some contexts and situations. Through these tasks, you will develop the confidence to work with EL effectively in your classes. Teacher trainers and educators can use the tasks during courses, workshops, and observations programmes in schools. The tasks, discussion and reflective learning will also help you (and your trainees) learn why reflective practice is central to teacher education and development, and how you can take control of your development much earlier in your career. Put simply, Working with Emergent Language makes the case for working with EL, gives practical advice on how to do it, and gives you the tools to monitor and evaluate your skills in this underexplored but vital aspect of learning and teaching a language.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1803881283
• ISBN13: 9781803881287
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.9" x 8.9"