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Gabrielatos, C. (2002). Shopping at the ELT Supermarket: Principled decisions and practices. ERIC, ED478747.
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Introduction This article reflects my ongoing development of a principled and flexible methodological framework beyond pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all methods; a framework free from traditional or dogmatic constraints, flexible enough to take into account new ideas and insights, but also critical of current popular trends and the claims of authorities and experts. In this article I examine some common attitudes towards methodology selection, discuss the notion of eclecticism and outline the nature and implications of principled decision-making and practice in ELT. I argue that principled teaching requires a) awareness of different views on the nature and use of the target language, as well as language learning (see Brown, 1994; Richards & Rogers, 1986; Rivers, 1972), b) awareness of one’s own beliefs and theories, and c) the ability to observe critically, recognise patterns and draw conclusions.
Relevant details This article is based on my plenary talk of the same title given at the tesol Macedonia-Thrace 8^th Annual Convention, 14^th October 2000, and was originally published in ELT News, 144 (February 2001). This is a revised version, which incorporates materials from my response article ‘Teachers or Materials Operators?’, published in ELT News, 152, November 2001. The article (in particular, the section on intuitive teaching) generated a thread on the IATEFL Teacher Trainers and Educators SIG discussion list between 10 April and 6 May 2005, posts 2067-2145 (with some intervening posts on other topics). This is the link to the first relevant post: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ttedsig/2067 (you will need to subscribe to the discussion group).
Key words Language teaching methodology, eclecticism, EFL, ELT, TESOL, teacher knowledge, teacher awareness, intuition.
Related articles by the same author
Gabrielatos, C. (2005). Corpora and language teaching: Just a fling, or wedding bells? TESL-EJ, 8(4), A1, 1-37.
Gabrielatos, C. (2004). Discerning reality: Lesson observation as research. IATEFL Teacher Trainers and Educators SIG Newsletter, 3/2004, 5-8.
Gabrielatos, C. (2003). My methodology. IATEFL Issues, 172, 3-4.
Gabrielatos, C. (2003). How much is that methodology in the window? ESL MiniConference, February 2003.
Gabrielatos, C. (2002). The shape of the language teacher. In A. Pulverness (Ed.), IATEFL 2002: York Conference Selections (pp. 75-78). Whitstable, Kent: IATEFL.
Gabrielatos, C. (2002). Standards and development in ELT. ELT News, 165, 11.