FOCUS ON THE LEARNER

Name: Cheryl Assignment 1: Focus on the Learner

Course: O3/2020 Date submitted: 29th Jul

The aim of this assignment is for you to:

 Investigate the learning context and assess learner needs with reference to a specific group of
students.
 Identify sources for language development.
 Suggest specific language-focused activities and an explanation / rationale for their use with
the same group of students.

Assessment criteria (from the CELTA Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines)

Successful candidates can demonstrate their learning by:

 Showing awareness of how learners’ backgrounds, previous learning experiences and learning
preferences affect learning.
 Identifying the learners’ language / skills needs.
Correctly using terminology relating to the description of language systems and language
skills.
Selecting appropriate material and/or resources to aid the learners’ language development.
Providing a rationale for using specific activities with a group of learners.
Finding, selecting and referencing information from one or more sources.
Using written language which is clear, accurate and appropriate to task.
+-750/1000 words.

Each assignment may COMMENTS

be submitted twice
PASS
1.
RESUBMIT

PASS on
2. Resubmission

FAIL

FIRST MARKER SECOND MARKER

Part 1: Background
Jimmy is a 16-year-old Chinese student. His first language is Chinese. Jimmy has been
studying English since he was 3 years old. Currently, he is a student in an international high
school in Shanghai, China. His English language level is around pre-intermediate to
intermediate.
Besides he learned English in public schools in China from grade 3 to 9, he took
extracurricular English lessons. English curriculums in China tend to be very basic and focus
mainly on student’s memorizing vocabularies and grammar rules because Chinese people
think study has to be hard (Swan & Smith, 2001). Speaking and listening is not much
emphasized.
After Jimmy transferred to an international school, he studied International General
Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) course. Therefore, he studied subjects in English.
His school uses English as the medium of Instruction (EMI). As a result, it gives him great
opportunity to practice his English.
Jimmy wants to learn English language with intrinsic motivation (Brown, 2000) due to the
fact that he likes English. Moreover, his motivation to improve his level of English especially
his listening and speaking comes from the pressure of IGCSE exams. He aims to study
abroad in the future.
Jimmy is a dedicated learner. Jimmy prefers group presentation and likes to work in pairs or
small groups. According to the questionnaire (Appendix 3), he is a mix of visual, auditory and
kinesthetic learner (Scrivener, 2011). He believes that reading and writing are his strengths
and speaking and listening are his weaknesses. However, he is confident enough to
communicate with others. On the other hand, there is a lot of scope of improvement in the
area of reading and writing. There are some grammatical and vocabulary issues in his
writing.

Part 2: Skills and Communication

2.1 Reading
As for receptive skills, I have noticed that reading seems to be the strong skill for Jimmy. It
could be due to the fact that Jimmy as a Chinese student might have done a lot of reading
exercises in schools. Moreover, he needs to read English textbook for information now.
Therefore, he has no problem in reading for gist. However, he has difficulty with reading for
details if there are unfamiliar vocabularies.
2.2 Speaking
In terms of productive skills, Jimmy seems to be very willing to share his thoughts and ideas
when he is in pairs and in groups. He is happy to talk first and say “hi” first when he is doing
pair work. His speaking is clear enough to conduct conversation with partners although he
makes grammatical and lexical mistakes a lot when he speaks. No matter who he pairs up
with (weak one, for example, Juliya, or strong one, for example, Alexey), he can
communicate effectively with them.

Part 3: Strengths and Weaknesses

Besides observing Jimmy in the class, I also analyzed his writing and speaking work. Jimmy’s
written sample (Appendix 4) and transcript of oral samples (Appendix 5) are attached.
3.1 Strengths
Successful Language Use in Grammar
Example 1:
Relative Clause: Clause with who/that/which
“And even people who hate dogs or cats make poisonous meatballs…”
“I think we have to know that we all have the right to…”
This is high-level grammar point, and Jimmy can use this kind of clause.
Example 2:
Use of adverbs:
“they will gradually understand.”
“I would definitely choose to drink tea.”
These adverbs are used correctly with verbs.
Successful Language Use in Pronunciation
Example 1:
The pronunciation of /θ/: think, thing, rather
According to Han (2013, p. 27), “Chinese speakers generally have trouble with dental
fricatives [θ] in English as there are no dental fricatives in Mandarin Chinese. Typically, the
[θ] and is substituted with the similar alveolar fricative [s].” However, Jimmy did a good job
about it.
Example 2:
The stress of the vocabulary: incredibly [ɪn'kredəbli]; destruction: [dɪ'strʌkʃ(ə)n
In Mandarin pronunciation, there is no such thing as word stress. Therefore, it is good for
Jimmy to pronounce words with correct word stress.

3.2 Weaknesses
 Grammatical Mistake 1

What is the weakness:

Present perfect
Example: “Since I went to the international school, I haven’t see you again”
(written)
“I have just take some new photos” (written)

What is wrong? Wrong form of the verb:

What is the correct version? it should be I have+ seen/taken (past participle)

Why did the students make The past participle often ends in -ed. But there are some verbs, for
the mistake? example, take, are irregular. The learner may not know the rule very
clearly.

Grammatical Mistake 2

What is the weakness: Agreement between the subject and the present tense verb

Example: “Researchers believes that young people at this age have…” (oral)
“And the photo have a wonderful color.” (written)

What is wrong? Agreement problem:

What is the correct version? it should be Researchers believe/ the photo has.

L1 interference
Although it is the basic knowledge of the agreement between the
Why did the students make subject of a clause and the form the verb, there is no agreement
the mistake? needed in Chinese language. Also, he could be too careless.

Phonological Mistake 1

What is the weakness: Pronunciation correct vowels

Example: “circumstance.” [ˈsɜːrkjuːmstəns]

What is wrong? “circumstance.” [ˈsɜːrkjuːmstəns]

What is the correct version? “circumstance.” [ˈsɜːrkəmstəns]

He confused the pronunciation of “cu” in “circumstance” with the

Why did the students make “cu” in “cute”. “cu” in “circumstance” should be pronounced as /kə/.
the mistake? Since the word ‘circumstance’ is a high-level word for Jimmy, he could
easily think that it has similar pronunciation with the word he knows,
for instance, ‘cute’.
 Phonological Mistake 2

What is the weakness: consonants cluster: [fl]

Example: harmful [ˈhɑːrmfju]

What is wrong? harmful [ˈhɑːrmfju]

What is the correct [ˈhɑːrmfl]
version?
He confused the pronunciation of “fu” in “harmful” with the “fu” in
“future”. “Fu” in harmful should be pronounced as /fl/.
Why did the students make What’s more, as for Chinese learners of English, they tend to find
the mistake? consonants clusters challenging sine there is not a single Chinese
language allowing consonants clusters.

Part 4: Helping the learner

4.1 Grammatical Problem
Jimmy has problems with past participle when using present perfect tense. I would use a re-
write the sentence activity (see Appendix 1 adapted from English grammar in use (Murphy,
2012, pp.15)) where he has to rewrite the sentence with correct past particle form of the
right verb. He is a visual learner and likes to take notes and she mentioned that she likes
doing grammar activities because he likes to practice to see if he could get them all correct.
Therefore, this activity would combine focusing on his needs as well as his interests.
4.2 Phonological Problem
Jimmy has problems pronounce consonants cluster /fl/. I would adapt materials from
English Pronunciation in Use. Intermediate (Hancock, 2003, pp.24&34) and design one more
activity (see Appendix 2) to help him practice the/f/, /l/ & /fl/ by pair work. He is a mix of
visual and auditory learner and likes to discuss in pairs. By looking at pictures and practicing
pronunciation with partners, I think this activity will certainly help him.

References:
Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching (Vol. 4). New York:
Longman.
Han, F. (2013). Pronunciation Problems of Chinese Learners of English. ORTESOL Journal, 30,
26-30.
Hancock, M. (2003). English Pronunciation in Use. Intermediate. Cambridge University Press.
Murphy, R. (2012). English grammar in use. Ernst Klett Sprachen.
Scrivener, J. (2011). Learning teaching: The essential guide to English language teaching.
Macmillan Education.
Swan, M., & Smith, B. (2001) Learner English: A teacher’s guide to interference and other
problems. CUP, Cambridge.
Appendix 1:

adapted from: English grammar in use (Murphy, 2012, pp.15)

Appendix 2:

adapted from: English Pronunciation in Use. Intermediate (Hancock, 2003, pp.24&34)

Then practice the following words: /fl/: fly; fleece; Fletcher; fluke; flirt; fluster.

Appendix 3: Questionnaire
Appendix 4: Learner’s Written Sample:
To Fred: (Dear Fred,)
Hello, long time no see. Since I went to the international school, I haven’t see seen
you again, although you live just opposite the road.
I know you love taking photos, and you also love cameras so I bring you a very good
news about the camera. I have just bought a Leica camera from the Discount Digital, and
they are all at a discount price, with up to 50% off on some models!
I have just to taken some new photos about the sun rise and it is a they are very
beautiful photo that I have ever taken before. It has a colorful LCD digital screen, and the
photo have has a wonderful color.
I think you can go to the shop online at www.discountdigital.com, are and you can
speak to their staff on phone 08457464533. Maybe you can find a similar camera like mine.
Maybe I will see you after the virus, I wish you have a good night!
Your best friend,
Jimmy

Appendix 5: Transcript of Leaner’s Speaking Samples:

Recording 1
I don't have any PETS now. But I once wanted a pet. Because I think that PETS are our
friends. When we feel lonely, they will accompany to us too, and to play happily. On the
other hand, when we feel sadness, they will come first in their own way. They will learn our
side or lie on our leg. Listen to our words. You there hurt to come comfort us. In today's
society, we sometimes see the stair rid OG down the street. We will learn from some
company documentary that some owners will act violent against their pet. And even people
who hate dogs or cats make poisonous meatballs to position those animals. We should
encourage children to learn or understand when they stepped of the knowledge so that
they will gradually understand that these animals are you crouch human in the process of
learning. We should not look at them from another perspective that long hurt day. Finally, I
think we have to know that we all have the right to like one things and not like one things.
But we don't have to rise to let something that we don't like disappear in this world. You
cannot accept it. You can stay away from it. But you can never destroy it in your own way.
Because the word is already very fragile and cannot withstand a destruction.

Recording 2
Coffee and tea graduate early under our people's lives. It had been become indispensable
drink for people. And the normal circumstance I would definitely choose to drink tea. The
reason is very simple. Because coffee will curse (cause) people can not to fall asleep with a
normal biology clock. Secondly, for a student, I think drink coffee, not very healthy yet,
because coffee contains a lot of caffeine, and caffeine can damage our kidney, her ties with
battery system, and even the reproductive system. The 3rd one is the bitterness of the
coffee. Maybe unless you increase the amount of sugar or pure the right amount of milk.
But however, a lot of sugar is also harmful to the human body. In people consistent thinking,
people always think that the people in the western country like to drink coffee. People in
the eastern like to drink tea. In fact, this is the just stereotype of people about this matter.
The result of the data study may surprising to you. The data showed that most young people
nowadays like to drinking coffee. Researchers believes that young people at this age have
low economic to consumption levels and will not take the responsibility for tea consumption
independently. Generally, they think tee under of the influence of the relatives and friends.
There is also a backward way of drinking tea, making he had too much more trouble. It is
not suitable for the officers who worked in the office school. Another place. In the modern
society, tea culture may emphasize the tradition too much. And it is not in the line with
modern culture. Under the strong impact of coffee culture, young people maybe will have
more willing to accept coffee. This study has some limitation. The data is not very accurate.
Perhaps our elders will prefer to drink these. The rapid process of the urban donation in
China allows young people to live at a faster pace so that the coffee culture, it quickly
integrated into the fast paced urban culture. And tea still advocates a slow life culture. It
may be a little out of place for young people. I can't stand t I am encouraged from the tea I
think tea needs to find a new combination in modern life so that tea will become the daily
drinks for young people one day.

Recording 3
In today's people's phase of life, it's graduate Lee accelerating. Therefore, we sometimes
need to slow down and stop to enjoy our life and relax. As a student, there are lots of
pressure that all so after a long period of study, our eyes will feel tired. At this time, I think I
will go to the park to relax. Maybe we cannot go to the park right now because of the virus.
However, on the other hand, during the winter or the summer holidays, or vacation, we
often go to the amusement park because it had much more firm that park. If you let me talk
about the choice of parks and the amusement park, I will definitely true. The second one,
friends to some reason. And I talked about because it had more fun. In fact, I tell the truth
that the greened of planet in the amusement park, it's enough for us to protect our eyes. So
I think if I have a long period of time, I will true to go to the amusement park and have fun.
Although there are many people, and sometimes I need to line up to get the faster. But it
doesn't matter. I I am due a kid who had lot of fun.

Recording 4
I often help others to do what's like. And I still remember that one of my classmates who six
last time, I…I can not remember what ever he caught a fever or a hut on the storm all hurt
his stomachache. But whatever he was very weak at that time and help him to go back to
the bedroom, go back to the documentary to let him to take around. Helping other is a very
interesting and you cannot you can not only get your knowledge from it, but also learn how
to take care of other people. Although this is the very small things, I we'll think that it is do
what I should do after I helped him, he also sent it to me. And I'm also very proud of myself.
I learn how to take care of other there is a very good proverb how you treat others, how
others were treating you. I always believe this sentences. I also believe that he will help me
in the future, because I believe that I can use action to influence more people. And I also
hope the world have more and more kind people in this old this word, Lee.