Speaker
Description
In the era of modern education when massive information is given and requires students to process and develop their expertise for their future, optimization of teaching approaches to enhance learning efficiency has become a critical issue. In the light, the “less is more” tendency has emerged in education, enabling students not only to actively absorb knowledge deeply but also to actively cultivate academic skills effectively in reality instead of mainly relying on what is imparted by teachers in traditional classes. As a result, instructional time can be reduced whereas learning time can be extended, contributing to an increasing level of students’ participation as well as significant improvements in academic performance. This paper was written for teachers who wish to explore the significance of the “less is more” philosophy which is applied specifically in the field of teaching English speaking skills as a foreign language. The paper, while offering an insight into the fundamental nature of speaking skills and outlining significant approaches of teaching speaking skills since the dawn of ELT as well as common instruction framework in current ESL speaking classes, mainly focused on sharing personal teaching experiences and pedagogical suggestions with elaborated descriptions of how the philosophy is realized or applied in real ESL speaking classes via the use of a flip- classroom model and task-based learning activities. Significantly, the study also reveals initial positive responses and feedback from first-year students who participated in ESL speaking classes at ESPD, Hanoi university where such “less-is-more” techniques were employed. In short, instruction time can be reduced while study time and efficiency can be increased. Hopefully, this study will be a helpful reference source for instructors at ESPD, Hanoi University and other universities regarding applying minimalist teaching approaches in ESL speaking classes.
Keywords: English language teaching (ELT), English as second language (ESL), English for Specific Purposes Department (ESPD)
Biography
I graduated from College of foreing languages, Hanoi National University with the very good university degree in teaching English in 2007 and achieved Master Degree in TESOL in Victoria University with high distinction in 2016. I have been working as a professional teacher since 2007, teaching English to first-year students in the English for Specific Purposes Department, Hanoi University and have been assigned as a Vice Academic Manager in the Department. During an 18-year period of teaching, I have always found myself passionate about exploring and applying innovative and effective teaching methods to increase the efficiency of each of my language lesson and to provide my students with valuable learning opportunties for them to develop their own language skills. For many years, I have been awared "Best teacher of the course" voted by students in the English for Specific Purposes Department, Hanoi University. I have also participated as a speaker in workshops to share my teaching experiences in our Department and I have been invited to work as a trainer in training practicum sessions for young teachers run by some English centers in Hanoi.
