Rethinking Presentation-Practice-Production (PPP) in

the post-method era

Penny Ur5th Bilgi University ELT Conference

2015

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This talk

• Method and post-method in English language teaching

• PPP: arguments for and against• A specific issue: transfer from practice to

production• Conclusions: The place of PPP in a post-

method pedagogy

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Method and Post-Method

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What is a language-teaching method?

A specified range of classroom proceduresBased on a coherent set of learning/teaching principlesDerived from theories of what language is and how it is learnt

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Examples

Grammar-translation

Audio-lingualism

Task-based instruction

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Problems with the concept of ‘Method’

• May not fit the local context: needs of learners, local culture, personality of teacher, requirements of exams etc.

• Disempowers the teacher

• May lead to rejection of useful teaching / learning tools

• May come to be seen as a goal in itself

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The Post-Method Era

We are in a ‘post-method era’Replacement of set of procedures by set of ‘macro-strategies’ (Kumaravadivelu, 1994)Move towards rejection of particular methods. But adoption of Kumaravadivelu’s ‘macro-strategies’ may result in limitations similar to those of methods

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Rejection of method in principle

Prabhu: ‘There is no best method’ (1990)

So not just an ‘era’:

The idea that there is one ‘right’ or ‘best’ method of language teaching is unacceptable.

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But methods are alive and kicking!

The concept of method is still deeply-rooted in present thinking (Waters, 2012: ‘methodism’)

Task-based language teaching is widely recommended

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The alternative: a ‘situated methodology’ appropriate to the

context

I (the teacher) decide what procedures to use in my teaching situation.The overriding principle:

Effective language learningSo:Whatever leads to good language learning by my students should be part of my methodology (Ur, 2013)

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Presentation-Practice-Production: for and

against

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PPP: Presentation, Practice, Production

Presentation: the teacher or textbook explains the language point

Practice: the students practice it in focused exercises

Production: the students use it in their own output (written or spoken)

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Reasons to use it

1. A lot of teachers feel it helps, and use it2. It is the basis of many (most?) coursebooks

(Nitta and Gardner, 2005)3. It makes sense in terms of skill theory

(Dekeyser, 2007)

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Skill theory

Three stages:Declarative

Proceduralization

Automatization

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Skill theory

Three stages:Declarative = Presentation

Proceduralization

Automatization

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Skill theory

Three stages:Declarative = Presentation

Proceduralization = Practice

Automatization

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Skill theory

Three stages:Declarative = Presentation

Proceduralization = Practice

Automatization = Production

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Reasons not to use it

1. Outdated

2. Discredited (Skehan, 1998)

3. Has failed in bringing about learning

4. Prescribes a rigid order of procedures

5. Practice does not transfer to production

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From practice to production

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From practice to production

Practice that focuses on accuracy does not usually transfer well to situations where the learner is focusing on meaning.

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Conventional grammar practice exercises

Example:Compose sentences using the present perfect. Use the verb in parenthesis.Lina cannot find her keys. (lose)Danny is very happy. (win the race)They don’t live here any more. (move)

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Need to ‘bridge the gap’

Provide activities that give learners practice in creating meanings, while keeping an eye on correct forms. Gradually moving from form-focused to meaning-focused to communicative.For example…

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2. Controlled but meaningful output

Find someone who…… has met someone famous.… has been in a car accident.…etc.Example: Student A: Have you (ever) met someone famous? Student B: Yes, I have met Michelle Obama.

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3. Free sentence completion: scaffolded production

Write a sentences about yourself, and share with a neighborI am proud of the fact that I have…I regret that I have never …Examples: I am proud of the fact that I have just got my first job. I regret that I have never learnt Chinese.

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4. Free sentence construction

Compose sentences describing what has just happened to produce the following responses:‘Congratulations!’‘What a relief!’‘Oh no!’‘What a surprise!’…etc.Example: I’ve passed the test! (‘Congratulations!’)

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5. Communicative task

You are a team interviewing a candidate who wants to do a nursing course. Compose questions you will ask them, including ones that relate to their life experience. Perform the interview with another member of the class who acts the candidate.Example question: Have you ever been in hospital?

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So:

1. The practice stage needs to include activities that invite meaning-focused and creative responses, as well as form-focused pre-determined ones.

2. The move from practice to production should be a continuum, not a jump.

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Conclusions: the place of PPP in the post-method

era

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PPP in a post-method era: some conclusions (1)

1. In a post-method era, teachers should not have to adopt a particular method, but should feel free to select those procedures that in their view and particular context help their students to learn well.

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PPP in a post-method era: some conclusions (2)

2. PPP is an example of a useful sequence of procedures that is likely to promote learning in most teaching situations. …

3. … as one component of an overall pedagogy that includes also many other components (e.g. communicative tasks, extensive reading, etc.)

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PPP in a post-method era: some conclusions (3)

4. It is likely to be used more, or less (or not at all) depending on the local teaching context and the teacher’s decision.

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PPP in a post-method era: some conclusions (4)

5. PPP is most effectively used when the practice component includes meaningful, creative review activities as well as conventional accuracy-focused exercises.

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Thank you for your attentionpennyur@gmail.com

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References

Dekeyser, R. (2007). Introduction: Situating the concept of practice. In R. Dekeyser (Ed.), Practice in a second language: Perspectives from applied linguistics and cognitive psychology (pp. 1-18). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Kumaravadivelu, B. (1994). The postmethod condition: (E)merging strategies for second/foreign language teaching. TESOL Quarterly, 28(1), 27-48.Nitta, R., & Gardner, S. (2005). Consciousness-raising and practice in ELT coursebooks. ELT Journal, 59(1), 3-13.Prabhu, N. S. (1990). There is no best method—why? Tesol Quarterly, 24(2), 161-176.Skehan, P. (1998). A Cognitive Approach to Language Learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Ur, P. (2013). Language teaching method revisited. ELT Journal, 67(4), 468-474.Waters, A. (2012). Trends and issues in ELT method and methodology. ELT Journal, 66(4), 440-449.