Empowering the Language Learner | The New School

Empowering the Language Learner: A Discussion with Diane Larsen-Freeman
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR GENERAL STUDIES | http://www.newschool.edu/generalstudies

Using a combination of lecture and experiential exercises, ESL education specialist Diane Larsen-Freeman traces the evolution of language teaching methods over the past 60 years, discussing how each evolutionary phase has contributed to a more "whole-person" view of language learners. Larsen-Freeman suggests that when educators treat language as a closed, static system, they create a critical barrier to student empowerment. When language is instead seen as the complex, dynamic system, teachers are able to help their students transform their linguistic world, not merely conform to it. Larsen-Freeman illustrates how this shift in understanding has implications for what and how teachers teach.

Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman is a professor of education and director of the English Language Institute at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She is also Distinguished Senior Faculty Fellow at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. She has spoken and published widely on the topics of teacher education, second language acquisition, English grammar, and language teaching methodology. In 1997, Dr. Larsen-Freeman was inducted into the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1999, she was named an ESL pioneers by ESL Magazine. In 2000, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Heinle & Heinle Publishers.

This event is co-sponsored by the English Language Studies Department at The New School for General Studies and Oxford University Press.

THE NEW SCHOOL | http://www.newschool.edu

* Location: Theresa Lang Community and Student Center, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor. Saturday, February 26, 2011 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• The New School
• New School
• New School University
• New York City
• Greenwich Village
• ESL
• Diane Larsen-Freeman
• English Language Studies
• Language
• learning
• teacher
• lesson
• nyc
• student
• lecture

[MrDarkbloom]

Diane starts 6:46

[MATESOLUSA]

This has been a great class-albeit as web seminar-and I am loving it-It is really putting methods into perspective-This is really a great presentation worthy of a discussion among teachers in a small group. Thanks!

[MrPEDOCTOR]

Is she serious.. ??

[cNRoxane270]

hook up today bit.ly\rjHBzc

[TheSabir2011]

it's very nice

[myrollingtrain]

Brief notes on a very interesting lecture.

[myrollingtrain]

We have an out of date view of language. Language is more than a set of rules for saying and understanding. Learner is social, who collaborates. Knowing another language is empowering. Language is dynamic in 3 ways: Real-time dynamics, over-time dynamism, organic dynamism. Learning by LOTS of examples. Superposition. Grows from bottom up. Rules vs. Fluency. Use as a means of dealing with a dynamic, changing situation.

[pasajerosinasunto]

O my God Lovely Diane You wre great Thank You some much I am reading You book actually and I am really enjoying it . Your way of explaining the language system is really a logical one and the way You have explained the course was really excellent Thank You again