AN OVERVIEW ON

THE TEACHING OF THE MACRO SKILLS

At the end of these weeks, the preservice teacher (PST) should be able to:
a. recognize important concepts in teaching the macro skills in English;
b. discuss the connection of teaching the macro skills with the other language skills and
competencies;
c. identify appropriate methods and approaches to teach the English macro skills; and
d. list down qualities of an effective English teacher in the macro skills.

Receptive vs. Expressive Macro Skills

Language is the system someone uses to communicate with another person. This
includes how words are created and put together, the meaning of those words, and how to
apply language in different social situations. As people, we use language to understand the
world around us and to convey our thoughts and feelings. This is the basis of receptive and
expressive language.

The Receptive Skills

Receptive language is the understanding of information provided in a variety of ways

such as sounds and words; movement and gestures; and signs and symbols. Children often
acquire elements of receptive language faster than expressive language. Because of this, our
receptive language vocabulary is generally larger than that of our expressive language.

In speech and language therapy, receptive language goals might include:

1. Following simple to multistep directions (ex., “Give Daddy the ball,” “Pick up your toy
and put it on the table,” “Stand up, push in your chair, and go to the door.”)
2. Answering comprehension questions (who/what/where/why) based on a picture or
story.
3. Understanding vocabulary words (concepts that help us describe, talk about time, or
quantity).
4. Inferencing and making predictions based on a picture or story (ex., Showing a
symbol such as a stop sign and asking, “What do you think that means?”; When
reading a story, stop and ask, “What do you think the character will do next?

The receptive skills are listening and reading, because learners do not need to produce
language to do these, they receive and understand it. These skills are sometimes known as
passive skills. They can be contrasted with the productive or active skills of speaking and
writing.
The Expressive Skills

Expressive language is our ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings through
words, gestures, signs, and/or symbols. It can be as simple as pointing to a desired object or as
complex as writing a book about an area of interest. Talking is the main form of communication
people think about when discussing expressive language. These are just the systems we use to
communicate.

Macro Skill Competencies in the English K to 12 Curriculum

An example of the macro skill competency in the English K to 12 Curriculum using ALS of
DepEd

https://www.slideshare.net/josephestroga/k-to-12-curriculum-guide-in-english-8
Viewing as a New Macro Skill

Viewing is defined as an active process of attending and comprehending visual media,

such as television, advertising images, films, diagrams, symbols, photographs, videos, drama,
drawings, sculpture and paintings. 'Viewing’ is about ‘reading’ – analyzing, evaluating and
appreciating – visual texts. Viewing is an active rather than a passive process.

It is an easy way for the teacher to be guided while discussing. Since viewing could help
the teacher ease the pain from talking throughout the period, so much so, the students rely
much in it (viewing), whereas the other macro skills are left behind.

Viewing is important because as students are dealing with mainly multimodal texts they
need to understand them and to become more effective, active and critical viewers to be able to
participate fully in society.

Viewing helps students develop the knowledge and skills to analyze and evaluate visual
texts and multimodal texts that use visuals. Viewing also helps students acquire information and
appreciate ideas and experiences visually communicated by others.

Connection of the Macro Skills with Vocabulary, Grammar and Literature

When we learn a language, there are four skills that we need for complete
communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to
speak, then to read, and finally to write.

The five skills of language (also known as the four skills of language learning) are a set
of four capabilities that allow an individual to comprehend and produce spoken language for
proper and effective interpersonal communication.

In the context of first-language acquisition, the four skills are most often acquired in the
order of listening first, then speaking, then possibly reading and writing. For this reason, these
capabilities are often called LSRW skills.

English Language has 5 main skills and each skill has other sub-skills and skill activities.
The main skills are all basic and very important. They are called the Macro skills. Macro skills
refer to the primary, key, main, and largest skill set relative to a particular context.

Listening and speaking are brain input skills but reading and writing are brain output
skills. Of course, there other skills such as pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling all
play a role in effective English communication.
REFERENCES:
• Donaghy, K. (n.d.). Development Advancing Learning: The fifth skill – 'viewing‘.
Retrieved September 09, 2020 from https://www.onestopenglish.com/professional-
development/advancinglearning-the-fifth-skill-viewing/557577.article
• Hilario, J.G. (2016). Viewing: The Fifth Macro Skill. Retrieved September 09, 2020 from
https://www.pressreader.com/
• Language Skills. Retrieved September 09, 2020 from
http://www.bchmsg.yolasite.com/skills.php#:~:text=The%2
0four%20macro%20skills%20are,writing%20are%20brain %20output%20skills.
• Pae. H. K. (2012). Research Note: A Model for Receptive and Expressive Modalities in
Adult English Learners’ Academic L2 Skills. Retrieved September 08, 2020 from
https://pearsonpte.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/07/ResearchNoteexpressivefinal2012-
10- 02GJ.pdf
• Receptive English Language Skills: Reading and Listening. Retrieved September 08,
2020 from https://www.iconplus.com/news-and-media/blog/ielts/receptive-english-
languageskills-reading-
andlistening#:~:text=In%20education%2C%20the%20four%20skills%20
are%20called%20the%20macro%20skills.&text=The%20receptive%
20skills%20are%20reading,skills%20are%20outwards%20(output).
• Receptive Skills. Retrieved September 08, 2020 from
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/receptiveskills#:~:text=The%20receptive%20s
kills%20are%20listening,skills% 20of%20speaking%20and%20writing.