Theme-based Instruction

Instructor: Dr. Wen-Hsing LuoNational Hsinchu University of Educat

ionwluo@mail.nhcue.edu.tw

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

2Professional Development-- Collaborative Teaching of EFL

Theme-based Instruction Theme-based = Topic-based Choose topics or themes that are of high

interest to students. Organize units around the theme while

integrating language objectives into the units.

Incorporate all skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar) in the theme-based units.

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

3Professional Development-- Collaborative Teaching of EFL

Example:

In a theme-based unit entitled “What am I wearing?”, students can explore answers to the question while expanding their vocabulary and practicing the four skills.

What theme could the above unit be generated from? _________________

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

4Professional Development-- Collaborative Teaching of EFL

Common themes used in theme-based instruction:

Animals Clothing Food GeographyHolidays and Travel JobsNumbers and Money Sports and Health Technology Weather

Add three themes to the above list:

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

5Professional Development-- Collaborative Teaching of EFL

Planning theme-based lessons

Step 1. Choose a theme/topic

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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Step 2. Decide theme-based units. (Please list the titles of the units. You can decide the number of the units you’d like to include so as to properly introduce the theme.)

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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Step 3: Decide language objectives of these units. (Please be specific about the language objectives of each of the units.)

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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Step 4. Make a list of the vocabulary that will be taught in these units. (Please balance between nouns and verbs in a theme-based vocabulary list, e.g., 50% nouns, 20% verbs, 20% adjectives and 10% others)

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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Step 5. Make a list of activities that will be used in these units. (Please relate these activities to other subjects if possible.)

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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Step 6. Plan lessons. (Please connect these units with regard to language objectives, vocabulary to be taught and activities to be used.)

Workshop: How to plan theme-based instruction--Overview

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References Brinton, D. M. (2003). Content-based instruction. In

D. Nunan (Ed.), Practical English language teaching (pp.199-224). New York: McGraw-Hill.

http://www.mrshurleysesl.com/model/themes.html http://www.englishclub.com/teacher-themes.htm http://www.english-test.net/esl-jobs/3/ http://www.aatk.org/html/conference2007/pdf/Donna

%20Brinton.pdf