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Humanising Language Teaching David Warr 2003 I am grateful for the opportunity to review the book, The book expounds a new concept, a new way of presenting language on paper, and details how these materials, called language plants, can be used in class with students. This is a language plant.
It has two properties: It is non-linear – words bend round, so that we can read two sentences: Language plants are colourful materials. It is colourful – words are coloured according to word class. Language plants are an evolution of current orthodox materials. The simplest plants are very similar to grammar and collocation boxes, but with the lines removed. The book has 128 pages, divided into 9 chapters. It is a coursebook, a practical course in how you can transcribe and use plants in class. There are hundreds of these trowel symbols throughout the book. It is a resource book. It can be read linearly, in order, but each double page is free-standing and self-contained, so that it can be dipped into anywhere.
The objective when making, or transcribing, language plants is to There are 4 sentences in the plant above. What are they? They are written thick to show primary stress. Look at the plant below. The verbs are written in red, with a pink background.
The collocation plant below needs completing. mild curry tea strong cheese spicy Adjectives fit onto the green branches, nouns fit onto the blue. Which noun collocates with weak? Carry on with the last few words.
This plant offers different ways to thank someone.
Chapter 1 is the introduction. It gives an overview of the book. Chapter 2 discusses what language is, using the metaphor of a plant. By looking at real plants, we can better understand the concepts of grammar, functions and context. Chapter 3 demonstrates how to write, or transcribe, language plants on paper; how big to write each letter, how to bend them round, how to add colour and phonology. Chapter 4 looks at word plants, comparing, for example, ship and sheep, and how we can make the morphology of a word easier to see. Have a go at transcribing a plant using these words: Chapter 5 explains syntax in detail: noun, adjective, prepositional
and verb phrases, and also adverbials and clauses. antique clock; old clock; antique vase; old vase Chapter 6 looks at function plants, like the thanking plant above. Chapter 7 considers the practical details of using plants in the classroom. We look at how we learn, and how plants can be used in any teaching situation. Chapter 8 gives ideas for practising the four skills with plants. Chapter 9 gives 5 lesson plans. I have tried to put into practice what I know about learning. If you wish to look at two page samples, David Warr |