CONFERENCE LAYOUT

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 21st-CENTURY REALITY

 

XII МЕЖДУНАРОДНАЯ КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ

Минск, 10–12 ноября 2016 г.

 

 

 

ПРОГРАММА

 

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БЕЛАРУСЬ

МИНСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ЛИНГВИСТИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

при участии

БЕЛОРУССКОЙ АССОЦИАЦИИ АМЕРИКАНСКИХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ

БЕЛОРУССКОЙ АССОЦИАЦИИ ПРЕПОДАВАТЕЛЕЙ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА

 

November  10,  2016

Welcome address: Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus

PLENARY LECTURE 1

 

1. Prof. Dmitri Kozikis (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF BREXIT IN THE U.K. JEREMY CORBYN THE NEW LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY

Basic changes affected the whole stream of the social environment in post-Brexit Britain and within this context Jeremy Corbyn’s ascendancy in the Labor Party reflects the new socio-political reality in the U.K.

 

2. Christopher Anderson (English Language Fellow)

CULTURAL AWARENESS

How to compare cultures in a meaningful way according to Hofstede’s research

 

Chair: Dr. Yuri Stulov (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

SEMI-PLENARY 1

 

Chair: Dr. Tatiana Karaicheva (Belarus State University, Belarus)

 

1. Thomas Jones (Brock Solutions Agency, U.K.)

CLASSROOM ALCHEMY: CHAOS INTO CREATIVITY

Language courses are often seen as less than a “real” course, corners are cut, both academic and mental. Teachers often feel they can have no impact in the space of a two, three or even four months – without seeing the profound change this can have on a learner. This is a session on tried and trusted techniques and practices for the engaged and communicative classroom to get around the essential dichotomy of unwilling participants and the fact that everyone learns, and teaches, in different ways. We are often slung in the direction of buzzwords and fads and rarely seem to engage with the reality that most people would rather eat their own nail-clippings than go to a class…any class, at any age. A holistic approach to getting the best from all elements of a language course and ensuring that students and teachers, progress and enjoy it. It will be interactive, there will be workshop elements and learning and doing…there will be NO communal singing or anybody forced to do star jumps.

 

2. Bujakowska Marta (IATEFL Pl Liaison Officer, Poland)

COOKING A SOUP

The workshop is based around one text. We will read, write, listen and speak using this one text. Together we will explore more ideas on how to exploit the text even more.  Any text can be adapted for the planned activities which we are going to taste in the workshop. It is addressed to higher primary and older learners.

SEMI-PLENARY 2

 

Chair: Dr. Tatsiana Salanovich (Belarus State Economics University, Belarus)

 

1. Giovanni Rottura (Gallery Teachers, Italy)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EFL SECTOR THAT KEEP TEACHERS RUNNING

In the globalised world of new networking opportunities, EFL curriculum development should bring real life challenges into the classroom. To succeed in this, EFL teachers should be exposed to business realities first. The presentation will explore new trends in EFL industry and showcase best practices when EFL teachers create successful business models for cooperation and professional development.

 

1. Dr. Sylvie Doláková (Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic)

PRONUNCIATION WITH (NOT ONLY) YOUNG LEARNERS

Pronunciation does not seem topic No.1 in EFL, especially with young learners. They are thought to imitate the sounds of English pretty well. However, some practising is quite essential. Teachers don’t plan pronunciation activities often; they say it’s waste of time and don’t think much about pronunciation exercises, which is a pity.

If you don’t know how to work on it, this workshop is right for you! You will learn a lot of tricks to eliminate making incorrect sounds, to follow the intonation rules and to keep the pronunciation routine.

 

 

Workshop 1. Literature (1)

Chair: Dr. Natalia Kopytko (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Dr. Natalia Kopytko (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

THE FORM OF ART OR ART OF THE FORM: EFFECTIVE WAYS TO TEACH FORMALIST STRATEGIES TO ADVANCED STUDENTS OF ENGLISH

 

2. Малыхина Маргарита Владимировна (Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russia)

СОНЕТ В АМЕРИКАНСКОЙ ЛИТЕРАТУРЕ: ТРАДИЦИИ И НОВА-ТОРСТВО

 

3. Dr. Denis Polovtsev (Belarusian State University, Belarus)

МИР ПРИРОДЫ И ЦИВИЛИЗАЦИИ В ПОВЕСТИ Э.М. ФОРСТЕРА «МАШИНА ОСТАНАВЛИВАЕТСЯ»

Workshop 2. Language, Culture and Area Studies

Chair: Dr. Maya Bogova (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Sokolovskaya Olga (Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus)

STUDENTS’ CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE BUILDING IN ESP TEACHING

This paper focuses on the importance of integrating the cross-cultural component into the ESP teaching practice. It outlines means of shaping students’ cross-cultural competence in ESP classes. It also gives some samples of practical steps of the Department of cross-cultural communication, including the issue of the manual “Professional Communication in Cross-Cultural Environment”.

 

2. Eleonora Dmitrieva (Belarus State University, Belarus)

THE ROLE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Extracurricular activities present wonderful opportunities as a stimulus to encourage students studying foreign languages. The paper deals with the work of the Interpreter Club organized at the BSU Faculty of International Relations. The existence of the Club does help teaching languages and confirms the belief that students given the opportunity to use their creative abilities and skills can work wonders.

 

3. Dr. Serghei Konovalov (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

ВЫБОРЫ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА США-2016: ИТОГИ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

 

4.    Dr. Maya Bogova, Dr. Natalia Gritskevich (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

EDUCATIONAL TEXTS AND TASKS IN TEACHING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Рroblem solving and critical thinking development are effective in stimulating students’ communicative competence. The article discusses how educational texts and reading tasks can be used to teach intercultural communication.

 

5.    Dr. Maria Putrova (Polotsk State University)

        LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE OF SILENCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 11,  2016

SEMI-PLENARY 3

Chair: Dr. Natalia Kopytko (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Bujakowska Marta (IATEFL Pl Liaison Officer, Poland)

COOKING A SOUP

The workshop is based around one text. We will read, write, listen and speak using this one text. Together we will explore more ideas on how to exploit the text even more.  Any text can be adapted for the planned activities which we are going to taste in the workshop. It is addressed to higher primary and older learners.

 

2. Dorota E. Campfield (Educational Research Institute, , Warsaw, Poland)

L2 PROSODY AND CHILD FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Rhythmic input, including rhymes, chants and songs, is frequently employed in second language (L2) instruction.  Empirically, however, the link between L2 rhythm and acquisition has not been established.  This paper reports on an intervention study with Polish beginners (mean age: 8 years and 3 months) learning English at school to reveal the influence of L2 prosody in a controlled study.  The ‘prosodic bootstrapping hypothesis’, relevant in developmental psycholinguistics, provided the theoretical framework for the study.

Children were randomly assigned to treatment, comparison and control groups.  Treatment and comparison groups were taught using specially designed materials such that the treatment group received significantly more exposure to salient linguistic rhythm.  The interventions were delivered in fifteen 45-minute lessons. 

The findings established a link between acquisition of implicit L2 knowledge and prosody and improvement in metalinguistic knowledge of English word order but not function words. In view of the brevity of exposure, the results should encourage more classroom focus on continuous speech, rich in salient prosodic L2 features and delivered at whole-text level.

 

 

SEMI-PLENARY 4

 

Chair: Dr. Lukasz Salski (University of Lodz, Poland)

 

1. Thomas Jones (Brock Solutions Agency, U.K.)

LITERATURE AS LAMP AND MAP IN THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CLASSROOM

The study of literature is often seen as edifying in its own right. We often take it prized into the classroom bathed in its own sacred light…to be greeted by indifference and dismay by students. How far can we make the study of literature relevant and accessible? What are we studying it for anyway and at what point is it acceptable to abandon the study of literature? Are we trying to ignite passion, or prove a point? Or simply hope our students will open a book? Any book. At what point does the language of the literature we study become an end in itself? Is the choice of language one with an inherent cultural bias?  Is the study of literature of any practical use to the millennial student? What does the study of literature offer the modern classroom?

2. Sylvie Doláková (Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic)

PRONUNCIATION WITH (NOT ONLY) YOUNG LEARNERS

Pronunciation does not seem topic No.1 in EFL, especially with young learners. They are thought to imitate the sounds of English pretty well. However, some practising is quite essential. Teachers don’t plan pronunciation activities often; they say it’s waste of time and don’t think much about pronunciation exercises, which is a pity.

If you don’t know how to work on it, this workshop is right for you! You will learn a lot of tricks to eliminate making incorrect sounds, to follow the intonation rules and to keep the pronunciation routine.

 

Workshop 3. Literature (2)

 

Chair: Dr. Ivanova Vera (Brest State University, Belarus)

 

1. Natalia  Zelezinskaya (Belarus State University, Belarus)

A “LONG WAY DOWN” PRINTED AND FILMED

The paper deals with Nick Hornby’s novel “Long Way Down”, which is an attempt to research the problem of suicide on the example of four strangers who meet on the roof of a London sky-scraper on New Year’s Eve. Hornby meditates upon life and death, though hardly cares about the plot and verisimilitude. The book is compared to Pascal Chaume’s viewpoint in his film “A Long Way Down” (2014).

 

2. Dr. Vera Ivanova (Brest State University, Belarus)

AMERICAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

The presentation deals with the changes of American children’s literature in the 1860-1870s. Sensational ‘dime’ novels gave way to family stories which exalted the mother’s role in making home the emotional and intellectual centre of life. Intellectual discourse gradually passed from adult to children’s literature

 

3. Yekaterina Sharova (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

FORMS AND TECHNIQUES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REPRESENTATION IN THE NOVEL ‘AN EXPERIMENT IN LOVE’ BY HILARY MANTEL

 

4. Maria Zhukova (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

EXISTENTIAL IDEAS IN THE NOVEL “PINCHER MARTIN” BY W. GOLDING

Pincher Martin” is one of the most exemplary novels by W. Golding filled with existential ideas and artistic image of a man left alone with his own naked self. Set in the allegoric place the main character of the novel represents a person torn between old beliefs and a new reality that pushes him to the brink of insanity. Main existential notions such as freedom of choice, loneliness and dread are depicted as a mixture of main constituents of a human being that determine his fate and self.

 

Teacher Master Class 1

1. Natallia Kaliuzina (Streamline Language School)

DEALING WITH FOSSILIZED ERRORS IN CLASS

The workshop will introduced you to the concept of ‘fossilization’ and ‘fossilized errors’. The presenter will categorize the fossilized errors students make and examine the reasons behind them. By the end of the workshop, you will be equipped with ready-made tools to deal with fossilized errors in class, which you can immediately implement in your own teaching context.

Workshop 4. Literature (3)

 

Chair: Dr. Irina Kudriavtseva (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Dr. Irina Kudriavtseva (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

A WALLED GARDEN” BY PETER TAYLOR: A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

The short story “A Walled Garden” can be successfully used as an additional text to be studied within the framework of the feminist approach addressed in the textbook “Critical Approaches and Text Interpretation” for 5th-year students specializing in English and American literature at MSLU. The story’s intergenerational conflict serves as an illustration of the elder generation of women passing patriarchal values to the younger one, expecting it to conform to particular ideals of femininity and gender roles.

 

2. Ella Lomako (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

THE PROBLEM OF ALIENATION IN THE NOVEL “THE VICTIM” BY SAUL BELLOW

The paper focuses on the theme of alienation in the novel “The Victim” by Saul Bellow on the analysis of the major character Asa Leventhal. Through his character the meaning of a person’s alienation from the world and from his own self is disclosed. Asa’s alienation is seen as a result of his failure to live authentically and of his retreat into pure abstraction.

 

3. Irina Bakhur  (Brest State University, Belarus)

«ВЕЛИКИЙ ГЭТСБИ» ФРЭНСИСА СКОТТА ФИЦДЖЕРАЛЬДА ГЛА-ЗАМИ БАЗА ЛУРМАНА

Доклад представляет сравнительный анализ романа Ф.С. Фицджеральда и его кине-матографической версии 2013 года, представленной Базом Лурманом. Наряду с рас-смотрением художественных приемов, использованных в фильме для отражения так называемого «Века Джаза», представлены особенности видения произведения режиссёром.

 

4. Vadim Zuenok (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

THE TRIUNE COMPOSITION IN THE NOVEL «THE GODS THEMSELVES» BY ISAAC ASIMOV

The paper describes the logical cohesion throughout the three chapters of the novel and the way they are finally reunited into a single unity of thought. It discloses the elaborate metaphorical senses of travelling in space and contacting alien civilizations. The issues on the agenda show socially significant binary oppositions like power – powerlessness, reason – stupidity, striving for common welfare – thirst for satisfaction of destructive self-oriented interests. Eventually the reader is led to conclude that Stupidity is the main social vice and the only thing to be opposed to it is Reason. The paper is aimed at revealing the great capacity of science fiction as a genre of literature.

 

5. Dr. Lubov Pervushina (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

THE PROBLEM OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN CONTEMPORARY ÉMIGRÉ WRITING

Contemporary émigré writing reveals different aspects of immigrant life in the USA and forms an important aesthetic territory and often the only available evidence on the life in exile. It also emphasizes the significance of cultural identity, which is connected with the problems of adjustment, assimilation/rejection, acculturation, individualization and Americanization. The individual experience of émigré writers is revealed in their composite national identity which includes the connections between the Old and the New World, the historical and cultural memory and “an epistemological and ideological filter: the choice of language”.

Round Table Discussion

 

ESP / EAP: NEW CHALLENGES – NEW STRATEGIES

 

Chair: Dr. Tatiana Karaicheva (Belarus State University, Belarus)

 

1. Dr. Tatiana Karaicheva (Belarus State University, Belarus)

ESP / EAP: NEW CHALLENGES – NEW STRATEGIES

The current Master programmes which have been mostly regarded as the preparatory stage for post-graduate studies are being increasingly replaced by a variety of new master programmes, some of which do not involve preparation for the Candidate (PhD) exam in a foreign language. The paper discusses the new learners’ needs, course design, development of learning and assessment materials as well as the methodological approaches required.

2. Dr. Tatsiana Salanovich (Belarus State Economics University, Belarus)

TEACHING PARAPHRASING IN AN EAP COURSE

The paper examines peculiarities and significance of paraphrasing as an academic skill. Ways to teach paraphrasing are systematized; samples of exercises to be used in the EAP course are given.

 

3. Hets Maryna (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

ACQUIRING DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE WHILE LEARNING ENGLISH FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

The author argues that directness is the best choice in a professional talk. Diplomatic language is about modifying one’s natural or cultural directness. While learning to show that your interlocutor is respected and cared about the students also understand others more profoundly.

 

4. Natalia Shishkina (Voronezh State University, Russia)

USING VIDEO IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING TO ESP STUDENTS

The presentation focuses on using short videos about the latest high-tech news while teaching English for both General and Special Purposes to students who major in Applied Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics.

 

Teacher Master Class 2

 

1. Irina Vorobyova (Streamline Language School)

TEACHING VOCABULARY IN A PRIMARY CLASSROOM

We will look at some effective ways of vocabulary presentation in a primary classroom, analyse the sequence of introducing the meaning, form and use of the word, get insights into the importance of sensory activation to make the vocabulary more memorable for children as well as devise a variety of multi-sensory activities to appeal to all learner types.

Workshop 5. Literature (4)

 

Chair: Prof. Olga Soudlenkova (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Nikolai Kouripka (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

FAREWELL TO HEROISM (A NEW TYPE OF PROTAGONIST IN CONTEMPORARY BRITISH WAR FICTION)

World War II had a profound effect on British Literature. This presentation deals with its influence on the contemporary war novel as well as with the emergence of a new type of protagonist affected by war. In its approach to World War II contemporary British fiction exceeds national boundaries and shows specific processes of a lone individual fighting to find peace and comfort in a world whose values and traditions had been turned upside down and other traumatic issues that today have become more than a dominant historical topic.

 

2. Alsu Vafina (Kazan Federal University, Russia)

METHODOLOGY OF STUDYING AN ARTISTIC TEXT AT ENGLISH LESSONS

The paper deals with the problems connected with examining efficient ways of teaching English literature in new educational conditions. The aim of the author is to demonstrate the principles of working with a piece of art with students of English as a foreign language. The findings are based on the experiment of teaching English literature as an additional subject at Kazan school 49. The plan of the lesson illustrates the productive strategies of teaching in the new educational conditions in Russia. The teacher is to arouse awareness of acceptance of a different culture. The process of learning literature should be followed by the creation of a barrier-free environment.

 

3. Ekaterina Zueva (Kazan Federal University, Russia)

BRITISH AND NORTH-AMERICAN LITERATURE ABOUT ANIMALS:

HISTORY AND TRADITIONS

The research studies the functioning of animal images in literature from the middle of the XIXth to the early XXIst century. Literature about animals is an integral part of the literary process in Great Britain and North America. Diachronic approach is used to show how different genre forms explore common and different aspects of representation of animals in literature. A timeline of development of literature about animals is created.

 

4. Borovikov Pavel (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

СОВРЕМЕННАЯ БРИТАНСКАЯ ПОСТКОЛОНИАЛЬНАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУ-РА КАК ИСТОЧНИК СОЦИОКУЛЬТУРНОЙ ИНФОРМАЦИИ

 

5. Kolotina Olga (Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russia)

AMERICAN STUDIES: ISSUES OF STUDENTS’ INDEPENDENT WORK

 

SEMI-PLENARY 5

 

Teacher Master Class 3

 

Chair: Valiantsina Holubeva (Institute of IT&Business Administration, Belarus)

 

1. Valiantsina Holubeva (Institute of IT&Business Administration, Belarus)

FIVE EASY STEPS TO CONVERT INTO A 21st CENTURY EFL TEACHER

The presentation highlights ways to modify the conventional way of teaching English to prepare for living in the 21st century: (a) creative tasks with traditional materials, (b) tasks to boost learners' autonomy, (c) top ten grammar structures, (d) paralinguistic features to address in class, and (e) a new teacher development strategy. All these are within reach of EFL teachers.

 

2. Dr Elena Malashenko (Belarus State Economics University, Belarus)

EDMODO AS POTENTIAL FOR THE ELT CLASSROOM

The presentation highlights the reflection on a good use of Edmodo platform and its different interactive applications in teaching process. It also enumerates the steps of control and assessment realized by means of these new apps and the platform itself in the teaching process.

 

November  12,  2016

Teacher Master Class 4

 

1. Dr. Yuri Stulov (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

USING ACTIVE ANALYSIS STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING ENGLISH

The aim of the workshop dealing with Active Analysis is to familiarize the participants with various strategies traditionally used for training would-be actors and to apply them in order to develop not only speaking skills but also to enrich vocabulary and practice other aspects of ELT that contribute to the success of language acquisition. Some of them are based on the techniques suggested by Professor Maria Knebel.

 

2. Jekaterina Sadovskaya (Institute of Business and Management of Technologies, BSU, Belarus)

USING LITERATURE TO CROSS BORDERS

The workshop will discuss ways in which books by renowned writers can be used to increase students’ awareness of cultural differences between people of different nations and races and make them see difference as a tool to overcome prejudice, misconceptions, stereotypes, and misunderstanding that continue to be a major concern in the world divided by all kinds of borders.

 

Workshop 6. Contemporary Methodology of Teaching

 

Chair: Dr. Umit Yildiz (Minsk State Linguistics University, Turkey)

 

1. Dr. Umit Yildiz (Minsk State Linguistics University, Turkey)

THE NEED FOR NEW CURRICULA FOR TEACHING TURKISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN RUSSIAN SPEAKING CONTEXTS

The aim of this presentation is to discuss the issues of foreign language curriculum and syllabus issues including the dimensions of grammar, phonetics, skills and literature teaching, in the context of teaching Turkish. In this particular presentation, the current status of curricula and/or syllabi that are used in Russian-speaking countries regarding Teaching Turkish as a foreign language will be discussed. Besides, the weak and strong points of these curricula and Syllabi are shown and recommendations are made for new curricula that may better fit the needs of Russian learners of Turkish language.

 

2. Ekaterina Prusova  (Gymnasia №22, Minsk)

THE VALUE OF SONGS FOR TEACHING YOUNG LEARNERS

Modern teachers have a variety of pedagogical tools to make English lessons interesting and useful. Songs play an important role in the development of young learners, especially when they only start learning English.  Children like music, rhythm and movement. Singing songs helps them to practise a foreign language. The paper shows the benefits of using songs in the young learners’ classroom. It offers some ways to develop creativity and create their own songs and chants to famous tunes.

 

3. Natalia Barashko (School №191, Minsk)

THE USAGE OF INTERACTIVE BLACKBOARD AT THE LESSONS OF ENGLISH AT SCHOOL

The paper tells of the use of interactive blackboard at the lessons of English at school covering its advantages and practical usage. The interactive blackboards help to develop the use of electronic means of studying because they give the listeners information more quickly than the usage of standard means.

4. Olga Sikorskaya (Gymnasia № 22, Minsk)

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD AS A TOOL FOR CREATING A RANGE OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

 

Workshop 7. Literature (5)

 

Chair: Dr. Marina Rogachewskaja (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Prof. Olga Soudlenkova (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS OF A HUMAN DESTINY IN PENELOPE LIVELY’S  NOVEL MAKING IT UP

Uchronia, allohistory, alternative history, “what if..” literature – these are various names for the genre of fiction the essence of which is to imagine what might have happened if at some point events took a turn different from the real one. Most alternative histories deal with events of world significance like wars or revolutions. Yet there are also books presenting alternative versions of individual lives.

 

2. Dr. Marina Rogachewskaja (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

HISTORY AND THE MIND IN H. MANTEL’S NOVEL “BRING UP THE BODIES”

 

Workshop 8. Contemporary Methodology of Teaching

 

Chair: Dr. Lukasz Salski (University of Lodz, Poland)

 

1. Dr. Lukasz Salski (University of Lodz, Poland)

PEER-REVIEWING: A STEP IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING AND A TECHNIQUE IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING TO WRITE IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Foreign language teachers who aim to advance their learner’s writing will sooner or later have to face the tasks of 1) raising student writers’ awareness of reader expectations and 2) developing their reviewing and editing skills. These may be particularly challenging for teachers whose students are not used to seeing writing as a complex process.

 

2. Valentina Levchuk (Gymnasia №1 Baranovichi)

DEBATE IS A GAME

Debating teaches participants the principals of critical thinking coupled with presentation skills. Debating helps students develop their public speaking skills, have fun (because debate is a game) while arguing with others on a range of topics, helps to grow confidence in all areas by giving students  the skills to address a crowd, develop their own opinions and tell a joke!

 

3. Elena Bialko  (IBA Institute of IT and Business Administration)

ASSESSING STUDENT WRITING

Writing skills are a key asset at every stage of an individual’s career. Because of this, an English teacher should not underestimate in-depth analysis of students’ writing. The presentation will outline teacher-friendly assessment criteria as a tool to evaluate the learners’ piece of writing in order to help them in their areas of weakness.

 

SEMI-PLENARY 6

 

Chair: Dr. Natalia Demchenko (Minsk State Linguistics University, Belarus)

 

1. Dorota E. Campfield (Educational Research Institute, , Warsaw, Poland)

L2 PROSODY AND CHILD FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Rhythmic input, including rhymes, chants and songs, is frequently employed in second language (L2) instruction. Empirically, however, the link between L2 rhythm and acquisition has not been established. This paper reports on an intervention study with Polish beginners (mean age: 8 years and 3 months) learning English at school to reveal the influence of L2 prosody in a controlled study. The ‘prosodic bootstrapping hypothesis’, relevant in developmental psycholinguistics, provided the theoretical framework for the study.

Children were randomly assigned to treatment, comparison and control groups. Treatment and comparison groups were taught using specially designed materials such that the treatment group received significantly more exposure to salient linguistic rhythm. The interventions were delivered in fifteen 45-minute lessons. 

The findings established a link between acquisition of implicit L2 knowledge and prosody and improvement in metalinguistic knowledge of English word order but not function words. The results should encourage more classroom focus on continuous speech.

 

2. Giovanni Rottura (Gallery Teachers, Italy)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EFL SECTOR THAT KEEP TEACHERS RUNNING

In the globalised world of new networking opportunities, EFL curriculum development should bring real life challenges into the classroom. To succeed in this, EFL teachers should be exposed to business realities first. The presentation will explore new trends in EFL industry and showcase best practices when EFL teachers create successful business models for cooperation and professional development.

 

 

 

 

Closing Ceremony. Book Lottery