Teaching and Learning Languages: A practical guide to learning by doing

This publication provides essential reading for any language teacher. Pupil engagement in the language-learning process is key to success, and with this in mind the authors provide a comprehensive list of ideas as well as explaining the underlying principles of successful language-learning.

Neil Jones, Assistant Headteacher

Learning a language, especially in a class or group, is an intensely practical subject. Active participation by students is the key to successful language learning at any age or ability level. This book offers teachers a multitude of practical activities in which students take the lead, and clearly links these to the various linguistic and pragmatic skills.

The book provides clear and comprehensive guidance on the classroom environment, models of teaching and learning, and assessment. It aims to help teachers plan engaging lessons which will enable all students to develop the key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in the target language. Topics covered include:

• The essentials of language learning
• Use of the target language; training the ear and training the voice
• Exploiting audio and video recordings
• Exploiting texts and pictures
• Using stories and drama in the classroom, and independent reading
• Making good use of written work
• Integrating multimedia resources and the Internet across the language skills
• Integrating grammar into communication

Teaching and Learning Languages has been written in line with national and European language policies, reflecting contemporary trends in the teaching and learning of languages. The text’s focus on active learning and its indispensable guidance for planning lessons make it essential reading for all trainee and practising teachers.

Jemma Buck taught in British secondary schools for ten years, where she was involved in continuing language learning, in-service teacher training and writing textbooks. She now works as a "Maître de Conférences" (Lecturer) in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Nantes, France.

Christopher Wightwick taught languages for 25 years before becoming an HMI, finishing as Staff Inspector for Modern Foreign Languages. He has written a three-volume German course and a German grammar. He is now an educational consultant and is the general editor for the Berlitz Language Handbooks.