INTEGRATED

SKILLS
GOWER, G. Teaching Practice. Ch.5: Developing skills
and strategies.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

 What is language learning?
O Not only acquisition of language.
O Not just something we learn about.
O Rather, a set of skills, something we learn
to do.

O So, students need meaningful and

interactive practice in the skills, in order to
learn to USE the language.
Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS
 Language skills

Listening Reading Speaking Writing

Receptive skills Productive skills

 Classroom Techniques for Receptive

skills are often similar.
 Productive skills lessons also share
many similarities.
Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS
 O In real life, language skills never occur in
isolation.
O In conversations, we listen and speak.
O When filling in a form, we read and write.
O When taking notes, we listen and write.
O Often the use of one skill leads on
naturally to another.
O We see a film, and we talk about it later.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

 How can you integrate skills in a lesson?

O As in real life, skills are integrated with

one activity leading on to another:

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

 Example 1
A lesson for intermediate level students, based on a
newspaper article.

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Ss read the
newspaper
T introduces article and Ss could write a
topic, Ss say complete tasks: letter to the
what they know editor in
and discuss what Reading response to the
they could find in comprehension, article, or write a
the article. vocabulary similar article
development, etc

SPEAKING READING WRITING

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

 Example 2
A lesson for lower level students about finding
accommodation.

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Ss read a Ss complete Ss listen to a Ss write a

newspaper some tasks: short piece of letter to a
advertisement, conversation friend
focusing on Roleplay / between the describing
informaion gap
some of the activity with a landlord and their new flat.
special possible telephone someone
vocabulary conversation with being shown
the landlord (asking
questions and round the flat.
making an
appointment to see
the flat)

READING SPEAKING LISTENING WRITING

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS

 Why is it useful to integrate skills?
O It allows for the practice of Lg. as in the real
world.
O Integrated lessons are more satisfying for
learners. They offer more variety
O One single topic can be fully explored, and
vocabulary can be practised and recycled.
O The same context or text can be used for
another activity, so the teacher does not
have to waste time setting up something
new.
Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS
 Practical Work
O Get into groups of three students.

O Talk about your “Proficiency” or “Text & Use” lessons

that you’ve had during the first week.

O Describe one of those lessons, stating clearly the

stage, the activity and the skill developed with each
activity. (As in slide #7)

O Once finished, share your lesson with the rest of the

class.

Miss Wanda Yáñez / Docente USS