Speaker: Stephen Lamb
Topic: The NEAT – Speaking and Writing – Where on Earth Do I Start?
Date: Saturday June 1st, 2013
Time: 3:00pm - 5:30pm
Venue: KNU, Woodang Building, Room 301 (up one floor from usual)
Map: click here
Abstract:
There has been an increasing amount of talk about the much anticipated / feared National English Abilities Test (NEAT). The publishing industry has been quick to respond, producing countless NEAT guides for all four components. Unfortunately, when it comes to teaching the speaking and writing components, they all suffer one critical flaw: they are all geared towards achieving perfect scores. Hence, they are of use only to students who already have high written and oral abilities. The problem is that most teachers will be dealing with students at considerably lower levels, and will need the skills and resources to help students achieve passing, and not necessarily perfect, scores.
This presentation will address how we can help poor, average, and semi-fluent students achieve better, if not perfect, scores on the NEAT. After reviewing current systems of assessment and comparing them with the NEAT, it will look at what strategies we can use to improve students’ speaking and writing, and also how we can teach specifically to the NEAT. The presenter hopes to draw on his knowledge of the English Speaking Proficiency Test and experience teaching writing to show what strategies and methods we can best use.
Biography:
Stephen Lamb has been teaching in Korea for over eight years, mostly in the public secondary school context. He has a BA from Simon Fraser University, an MA from Concordia University, Montreal, and a TESOL certificate. Mr. Lamb originally hails from the Vancouver area of Canada, and is currently employed at Changnyeong Girls Middle and High School. He can be contacted at steph_roy_2@yahoo.ca
