1. Teaching the
Language
System
Jeremy Harmer Chapter 6

2. Techniques to expose students to
language
● Realia
● Dialogues
● Texts
● Examples of words in use
● Pictures
● Drawings
● Gestures, expressions

3. Techniques to expose students to
language
● Questions to check understanding
● Pictures with bubbles
● Time line
● Examples
● Exaggerating voice and gesture
● Rods, cards
● Identifying chunks of meaning
● Discovering the rule and/or patterns

4. Techniques to expose students to
language
● Keeping own personal vocabulary books
● Controlled practice
● Choral and individual repetition
● Simple sentence making
● Question and answer exchange

5. Why do students make mistakes?
● Mistakes are part of the natural process of
learning.
● Some reasons are:
-Students own language gets on the way.
-Overgeneralization of rules.

6. Why do students make mistakes?
● Some mistakes are deep-seated and need
constant attention.
● Other mistakes are “slips” made while
students are simultaneously processing
information.

7. How should teachers correct
students?
● Correction is a vital part of the teacher’s role.
● Teachers need to be sensitive. Students
shouldn’t feel upset or less confident.
● Teachers should:
-Point out the mistake
-See if the student can correct himself
-Ask a partner to help if necessary.
-Monitor if the correction is appropriate.

8. Conclusions
Students need to:
● understand language meaning and
construction and have opportunities to
practice it.
● be exposed to a variety of techniques.
● be corrected in case of mistakes.

9. Activity
‘Study’ is one element of the “Engage-Study-
Activate” trinity. The elements can come in
different orders and sequences depending on
what is being studied.
Choose one of these language points and
design a “Engage-Study-Activate” sequence
following the examples given on pages 64 and
65.

10. Language points
● If clauses
● Reported speech
● Present continuous
● Irregular plurals
● Simple past vs past continuous
● Use of commas
● Questions in the past
● Present continuous

11. Language Points
● Superlatives
● Passive voice
● Connectors
● Inviting someone
● Asking for personal information
● Giving directions