Gunther Breaux (Retired, Korea)
Abstract
Conversation and presentation are like tennis: You learn the rules in 10 minutes, and the rest is practice. I will show how self-correction is a much better use of class time than teacher talk. If students can read or watch it at home, teachers shouldn't say it in class. Conversation classes are conversations. With the self-transcribed, self-corrected conversation test, students HEAR, TYPE, and READ every mistake they make: self-correction. Presentation classes are conversations about presentations. Half your partners are better speakers, and half are better at making presentations. Both improve. Presentations are narrated videos. Every time students narrate, they make mistakes, find mistakes, and fix both. And repeat. This improves their voice and forces them to self-correct for hours. Students make and watch videos at home and have feedback conversations in class. Students give help and get help: peer correction. The less teachers talk, the more students improve. Self-correction = self-improvement.
Research Paper (Video; 25 minutes)
Speaking / Conversation / Pronunciation
Primarily of interest to teachers of university students
About the Presenter
Gunther Breaux has taught English conversation to Korean university freshmen for 23 years. He’s the author of several EFL textbooks and has presented at international conferences in China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, England, and the U.S. His contribution to English education is conversation-based learning. PlanGBro@gmail.com
