Understanding

language
systems
Workbook
Your reflective journal and
additional resources
Foreword
We’re delighted you’ve chosen to continue your professional development
with TeachingEnglish training and look forward to learning with you over the
coming weeks.

In this workbook you’ll find additional learning materials to complement your

course, places to note ideas of interest, encouragement and guidance in
applying them within your teaching practice.

You can use this workbook in different ways – save and update it on your
device, or print it and keep handwritten notes. Do what works for you. We
hope you find it beneficial.

If you haven't signed up for the free course, go to the course training page to
enrol.

Happy learning.

The British Council open learning team.

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Contents
Foreword………………………………………………………………………….. 02

Your learning goals, your course………………………………. 04

Your learning tools………………………………………………………... 05

Module 1: Understanding functional language 06

Overview and additional learning resources………….. 08

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections…………….

Module 2: Understanding grammar 10

Overview and additional learning resources……………. 12

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections………………

Module 3: Understanding grammar – focus on form 14

Overview and additional learning resources…………… 16

Your learning: Notes, plans and reflections………………

Your action plan………………………………………………………………. 18

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Your learning goals, your course
Develop your understanding of functional language and grammar and learn how to apply
this knowledge to your teaching through reflection, analysis and effective presentation of
use and form.
During this TeachingEnglish training, you’ll engage with learning content in three modules,
supported by a series of live events and extra learning content in our Facebook community.
You’ll find practical support and encouragement from course tutors and other members of
the British Council courses for teachers global learning community as you work to
introduce new teaching ideas in your classroom.
Just as every classroom is unique, so is your learning journey. Ensure you’re heading in the
right direction by reflecting upon and noting your reasons for taking this course and
learning goals. Keeping these in mind will help you focus on the most beneficial content and
discussions for you.

Your goals and reasons for learning

I’m doing this course because…

I think I’ll learn more about…

I think my learners will benefit from this course because…

Introduce yourself and your learning goals by replying to the welcome post.

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Your learning tools
Online learning modules
After completing the introductory Getting started module, work through three modules,
each exploring a different area of teaching and learning. Involving an average of 12
hours of study, this course blends theory, practical teaching suggestions and case
studies that explore new ways of teaching. Repeat, return to and review activities as
often as you like before the end of your course. Learn how to access the online learning
modules by visiting the course page on TeachingEnglish.

Courses for teachers community

Join course tutors and other educators working on their professional development in
our supportive, Facebook-based learning community. Gain access to a wide selection
of additional learning resources and engage in developmental discussions while getting
the support and encouragement you need to successfully bring ideas from the course
into your classroom. Access all the discussions and content related to your specific
course in the Guides section on the community Facebook page.

Live events
Attend live community events and webinars led by expert educators, or watch the
recordings on the community Facebook page. Focusing on different aspects of your
course, these sessions provide you with an opportunity to seek answers to your
questions - and share your own expertise and insights. Recordings of all live
sessions are available on TeachingEnglish and on the community Facebook page.

Workbook
Use this workbook to record useful course and community content, questions you’d like
to ask in the community, links to resources, or to note ideas from any of the extra
resources or recorded events. Save a version online or print the workbook - or both.

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Module 1: Understanding functional
language
Overview
The aim of this module is to look at how teaching functional language helps your
learners, how you can identify functions to cover in your syllabus, and practical
ways of introducing and practising functional language with learners.
Can you now…?
 explain the concept of language functions?
 recognise the functions of a range of exponents?
 analyse language for teaching the functions of inviting, accepting and
refusing?
 relate the formality and appropriacy of functional language to the context in
which it's used?
 use dialogues to practise functional language?
 recycle functional language in a variety of ways?

Reflection
What are you interested in developing further?

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Use Lesson plan: Practise functional language

Use Lesson plan: Fun dialogues

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 Use Lesson plan: Writing informal letters
Use Lesson plan: Email writing
Use Lesson plan: Understanding dialogues
Use Lesson plan: Role play
Use Lesson plan: Erase the dialogue
Use Lesson plan: Vanishing dialogue
Use Lesson plan: Reality TV
Use Lesson plan: Shopping in a cafe
Read What are functions?
Read Register and degrees of formality
Read Register
Watch A trip down the memory lane of methodology

What did you learn from reading, watching, listening to or using the resources above?

I learnt….

What will you change in your teaching?

I’m now going to…

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 1 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

What did you learn? How has it helped your learners?

I learnt …

It’s going to help my learners by…

I want to find out more about…

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Plan it
One thing I’ll change in my teaching is… because…

Some problems that could happen are…

To solve those problems, I could…

Share your plans in the Facebook community in this post.

Teach it
My learners responded by…

Share your reflections in the Facebook community in this post.

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Module 2: Understanding grammar

Overview
The aim of this module is to deepen your understanding of English grammar and
to help you reflect on and talk about it. In this module, you'll learn about different
aspects of grammar, what kinds of difficulties your learners have with grammar
and how to relate knowledge of grammar to your classroom teaching.
Can you now…?
 discuss grammar terms referring to parts of speech?
 differentiate form and use of a range of grammatical structures?
 consider when and why to discuss grammar terms with learners?
 identify nouns and pronouns?
 distinguish between regular and irregular verbs and categorise irregular
verbs?
 describe the difference between tense and time in English and identify
different ways of referring to the future?
 identify some of the common features of spoken English?
 discuss some beliefs teachers have about grammar?
 differentiate between two approaches to thinking about grammar?
 relate the two different approaches to activities in the classroom?

Reflection
What are you interested in developing further?

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Further reading, teaching, and learning resources
Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Use Lesson plan: Grammar auction

Use Lesson plan: Practising parts of speech
Read What are the correct rules of English grammar?
Read Pedagogic grammar
Read Generative grammar
Read Prescriptive grammar
Read Planning a grammar lesson
Read Parts of speech
Read Teaching grammar creatively
Read Teenagers and grammar
Read Six ways to teach English grammar with voice recordings
Read Three ways to help English language learners 'notice' grammar
Watch Bending the rules: developing learner awareness of how language really works
Michael Swan - Some things that matter in grammar teaching and some things
Watch that don't
Watch Metalanguage
Watch Planning a grammar lesson

What did you learn from reading, watching, listening to or using the resources above?

I learnt….

What will you change in your teaching?

I’m now going to…

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 2 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

What did you learn? How has it helped your learners?

I learnt …

It’s going to help my learners by…

I want to find out more about…

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Plan it
One thing I’ll change in my teaching is… because…

Some problems that could happen are…

To solve those problems, I could…

Share your plans in the Facebook community in this post.

Teach it
My learners responded by…

Share your reflections in the Facebook community in this post.

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Module 3: Understanding grammar
– focus on form
Overview
The aim of this module is to help you consider how to present the use and form of
language effectively.
Can you now…?
 explain the difference between inductive and deductive teaching methods?
 identify and elicit meaning, form and pronunciation in a language lesson?
 select different methods to introduce new language?
 identify potential learner difficulties with language?
 design simple concept-checking questions to check learners' understanding?
 explain the difference between language acquisition and a focus on form?
 adapt language presentation activities to focus on form or acquisition?

Reflection
What are you interested in developing further?

Further reading, teaching, and learning resources

Type Resource description (tap/click to open)

Read Analysing language

Read Checking understanding
Read Deductive approach
Read Inductive approach
Inductive and deductive grammar teaching: what is it, and does it
Read work?
Read Should I stick to the plan? Emergent language and focus on form

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 Read Concept checking
Read Asking questions
Read Guided discovery
Read Methods, post-method, and métodos

What did you learn from reading, watching, listening to or using the resources above?

I learnt….

What will you change in your teaching?

I’m now going to…

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Your learning
Which new ideas in Module 3 are most useful for you? Note them here together with any
questions you’d like to ask in the British Council courses for teachers learning community.

What did you learn? How has it helped your learners?

I learnt …

It’s going to help my learners by…

I want to find out more about…

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Plan it
One thing I’ll change in my teaching is… because…

Some problems that could happen are…

To solve those problems, I could…

Share your plans in the Facebook community in this post.

Teach it
My learners responded by…

Share your reflections in the Facebook community in this post.

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Your action plan
Make an action plan focused on applying learning from this the course. Complete any
sentences that help you do this. Come back and reflect on what happened in class.

In the next two weeks, I am going to...

Over the next two months, I’m going to...

Before the end of the school year, I’m going to...

Next school year, I want to...

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Well done — you’ve made it to the end of the course! We hope you’ve
found it useful, and you’ll join us on another very soon.
Learn more about other free teacher training courses with the British Council
on TeachingEnglish.
Explore our framework for teacher knowledge and skills for inspiration,
support and materials.

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