Paul D. Toth is an associate professor of Spanish applied linguistics at Temple University, in Philadelphia, USA. The School of Languages and Cultures recently had the great pleasure of welcoming Associate Professor Toth to The University of Queensland.
During his visit, Associate Professor Toth delivered a public lecture titled 'What does it mean to “contextualize” grammar within communicative tasks?'
Abstract
This talk will explore the teacher’s role in shaping the dynamics of classroom interaction by challenging common notions of what it means to “contextualize” language tasks. Video recordings of classroom interactions during grammar-focused and conversation-focused tasks will be shown and discussed with respect to the participation patterns they facilitate and the objectives they achieve. The quantity and quality of learner participation will be investigated, as well as self-reporting from students on the strategies they use to figure out how to participate successfully in class. Conclusions drawn from the presentation will be related to broader explanations of how humans contextualize information when participating in discourse. The talk will conclude with suggestions for the design of activities, the evaluation of teaching materials, and classroom management.
Presenter
Paul D. Toth is an associate professor of Spanish applied linguistics at Temple University, in Philadelphia, USA. There, he conducts research on second language classrooms and teaches and mentors doctoral students and Spanish language teachers. Over the past 25 years, he has held a variety of positions related to second language teaching and learning, including: high school and university-level Spanish teacher, language curriculum coordinator, student teacher supervisor, graduate student mentor, and pre-service teacher educator. He has published 18 research articles and book chapters on instructed second language learning, and has twice been awarded the Paul Pimsleur Award for research excellence from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
