Principles of Effective Materials Development

By Instructor: Licda. Betty Castro

email: ncjcastro@hotmail.es

        Based on the Principles of effective materials development, proposed by Brian Tomlinson, states that  A prerequisite for language acquisition is that the learners are exposed to a rich, meaningful, and comprehensible input of language in use; because teachers should be sure of poviding spoken and written materials related to the topic, themes, events in order to achieve a meaningful for learners, also, exposing learners to authentic materials , will help students to acquire the ability to use the language effectively and providing enough samples of language that migth be useful for the learners to acquire.

       The second principle says that In order to for learners to maximize their exposure to language in use, they need to be engaged both affectively and cognitively in the language expeerience; here students need materials that activate their four skills and make them think and analize the given activity before, during and after using the language for communication.

      The third principle Language learners who achieve positive affect are much more likely to achieve communication competence;supply learners with interesting task and stimulate emotive responses through songs, literature, art to articulate their feelings before analyzing the situation.

       The fourth principle L2 language learners can be benefit from using those mental resources that they typically utilize when acquiring and using their L1.While creating activities encourage students  to switch to their inner speech during all the stages of the given task.
       The fifth principle Language learners can benefit from salient features of the input. Expose learners to examples rather that theory to leads students to pay attention and increase its potential for eventual acquisition.

        The sixth and last principle Learners need opportunities to use language to try to achieve communicative purposes; at this point learners need to be provided with activities that help them to communicate fluently and appropiately using the language, alos give feedback to students outcomes.

      Finally, try to ensure in your teaching activites as many principles you can, to provide your students with classroom materials encouter them on futture life situations while using the language.