Skill-Based Syllabus

Skill-Based Syllabus
Characteristics
1. Skills are things that people must be able
to do to be competent in a language,
relatively independently of the situation or
setting in which the language use can
occur
2. The content of the skill-based language
teaching is a collection of specific abilities
that may play a part in using language.
3. The primary objective of a skill-based
instruction is to teach a specific
language skill, such as listening for gist,
using proper intonation contours, reading
for the main idea, or using cohesive devices
in writing. These specific skills are immersed
with specific linguistic competencies, such as
pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and
discourse
4. The skills-based approach drew its
theoretical roots from behavioral
psychology and structural linguistics.
Specifically, it is based on the following
principles:
(a) The whole is equal to the sum of its
parts;
(b) There are differences between spoken
and written language;
(c) Oral language acquisition precedes the
development of literacy;
(d) Language learning is teacher-directed
and fact-oriented;
(e) Student errors are just like ‘sins’ which
should be eliminated at all cost.
5. Advocates of the skill-based approach
view language as a collection of separate
skills. Each skill is divided into subskills
(micro and macro skills).
6. These subskills are gradually taught in a
predetermined sequence through direct
explanation, modeling and repetition.
7. The mastery of these skills are constantly
measured using discrete point tests
before learning a new one.
What is a Skill-based Syllabus?
In skill-based syllabus, the content of the
language teaching involves a collection of
particular skills that may play a role in using
language.
There are four mode understanding the
language:
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
What is a skill in language
teaching?
The term “skill” in language teaching is
used as a specific way of using language
that combines structural and functional
ability.
Disadvantages
Under the right circumstance, the skill
based syllabi has few drawbacks. Up till
now, there is a theoretical question about
this kind of syllabus. That is about the
whether the degree to which ability to
perform specific in language is dependent
overall language proficiency or not.
Besides that, there are different opinions
about this syllabus related to the
relationship between skill instruction ad
general language proficiency. One side
believes that skill based syllabus will be
helpful because someone learns language
specifically. But other side said that this
syllabus will limit some one’s general
language proficiency
Advantages
1. Skill-based content is most useful when
learners need to master specific types of
language uses.
2. It is possible to predict at least what
material that students really need.
3. Relevance on student-felt needs or
wants .
What is a skill?
Generally, skill means an ability to do an
activity or job well. it involves someone
who has had special training and practicing
to do it.
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