TED Talks as the Core of a Technical English Course (original) (raw)
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English Language Teaching, 2019
Authentic materials, if appropriate to the learning situation, might turn the classroom environment into a more engaging place, where motivation might be generated through the performance of meaningful tasks. This article describes how a Text-Based Instruction approach can provide the basis for the design of an ESP syllabus based on relevant, varied and engaging tasks to enhance authentic language use among engineering undergraduates. The design of these tasks mainly draws on TED Talks that are specifically technological and connected to engineering undergraduates, as the talks develop novel and thought-provoking ideas which are interesting and personally meaningful and relate to different engineering fields. These tasks are specially designed to enable students to carry out a process of talk deconstruction through the analysis of distinct discourse and linguistic features specific to the spoken genre of TED Talks. This analysis ultimately aims at the eventual construction of studen...
Getting closer to Authenticity in the Course of Technical English
English Language Teaching, 2019
Authentic materials, if appropriate to the learning situation, might turn the classroom environment into a more engaging place, where motivation might be generated through the performance of meaningful tasks. This article describes how a Text-Based Instruction approach can provide the basis for the design of an ESP syllabus based on relevant, varied and engaging tasks to enhance authentic language use among engineering undergraduates. The design of these tasks mainly draws on TED Talks that are specifically technological and connected to engineering undergraduates, as the talks develop novel and thought-provoking ideas which are interesting and personally meaningful and relate to different engineering fields. These tasks are specially designed to enable students to carry out a process of talk deconstruction through the analysis of distinct discourse and linguistic features specific to the spoken genre of TED Talks. This analysis ultimately aims at the eventual construction of students' oral presentations. Oral presentations can be conceived as an activity that approximates the real world and future workplace of engineering undergraduates, and in consequence, promotes students' instrumental motivation.
TED Talks: A Multimodal Tool for Students of Technological English
Docencia e Investigación, 2018
This article presents an overview of online videos TED talks and how these can be used in a course of technological English to teach students how to communicate effectively. Skilful personalities trained in the art of public speaking from a wide range of fields exemplify good models of public speaking for ESP students. The article describes the different modes at play in many TED Talks. It is by addressing the different verbal and nonverbal modes that contribute to meaning making that lecturers can expose to students how speakers at TED achieve one important objective: to captivate and persuade their audience. Students, in turn, if able to realize how different modes are orchestrated in these talks, might be encouraged to voice their 'Ideas worth spreading' in a Ted-style and might be also emboldened to disseminate technical and scientific knowledge to a wide audience, contributing this way to the popularization of science. In the context of an ESP technology classroom, TED talks allow teacher and student to revisit to the very origins where TED techniques root from: delivering a precise concept in a succinct manner that aims to intertwine the speaker's words with diagrams and written instructions. Concurrently, students might visualize their desired language selves portrayed in TED speakers and be motivated to learn Technological English.
Teaching Business English with TED Talks: Putting Ideas into Practice
Journal of Language and Education, 2019
TED.com is used in teaching EFL to enhance exposure to English, to promote authentic vocabulary and to develop multiple foreign language skills. For university students studying business as their major and English for professional communication as a part of their university curriculum, TED talks provide a cutting-edge business context, which aims to increase the learners’ English language proficiency, develop the learners’ professional competencies and expand their outlook by acquainting them with business practices from around the world. Through authentic models of effective communication, students build fluency to achieve academic and personal success. Business English with TED talks, an EFL resource book, is the result of the author’s approach to creating educational materials based on authentic and up to date video content. Using the example of ‘Business English with TED talks’, this paper describes criteria for selecting TED talks for different groups of students, the structure...
The Effectiveness of Ted Talks Towards Students’ Proficiency Level
International Journal of Education, Psychology and Counseling
Proficiency has become a crucial aspect of learning the English language. The aim of this study is to find out the effectiveness of using English videos from TED talks towards students’ proficiency level. This study employed a quantitative research design. To fulfill this purpose, 50 diploma students were selected from a private university in Negeri Sembilan. These participants were then divided into two equal groups of experimental and control. A graded presentation was administered as a pre-test for both groups prior to the treatment. There were three sessions of presentations conducted with both groups in which the experimental group watched the TED talks and the control group underwent the traditional teaching method. After the sessions, post-test was given to both groups. The scores of both tests were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the experimental group experienced improvement in their speaking compared to the control group. Few reco...
Using Ted Talks for Updating and Customizing Learning Experience
Social Science Research Network, 2019
The article contains the analysis of current trends in education that should be taken into account when teaching ESP students. In particular, the author underlines the necessity to develop students’ discursive competence as well as their ability to present the results of their research in a foreign language. The existing learning materials in form of textbooks often become outdated rather quickly. What is more, the majority of them often overlook developing students' public speaking skills. For these ends, on-line TED conferences can be employed. In the course of working with TED talks students learn to analyze authentic video clips and make up their own presentations and lectures in accordance with the speech patterns they have learned. They develop the skill of impromptu speaking skills on a variety of professional subjects they major in. The work with TED talks in a classroom, though, requires a thorough preparation and a careful planning on behalf of the teacher. Successful ...
Tech-integrated language learning: Unleashing TED talks for ESL fluency
This comprehensive study delved into the nuanced exploration of the impact that TED Talks exert on the refinement of speaking skills among a cohort of 72 B.Tech engineering students, all navigating the intricacies of English as their second language. Employing a methodical descriptive qualitative approach, we meticulously conducted an analysis that juxtaposed the participants' speaking abilities before and after exposure to TED Talks for Control and Experimental groups. Behavioral theory is used in this study. The overarching objective of this research was twofold: firstly, to elucidate the discernible effects of TED lessons on the communication skills and confidence levels of students; and secondly, to pinpoint and evaluate the tangible enhancements in the participants' speaking proficiency. What emerged from the study was a consensus among the students regarding the transformative influence of TED-based activities on their listening skills, overarching communication competence, and levels of self-assurance. One salient revelation pertained to the positive correlation between engagement in TED Talks and an amplification of not just linguistic abilities but also the overall self-assurance and poise of the students. The integration of TED videos and multimedia emerged as a focal point, with participants highlighting these modalities as indispensable tools for infusing interest and enjoyment into the learning process.