Description:
This presentation will outline the principles of a semiotic and ecologicalapproach to language learning, and the practical consequences for class-room teaching and learning that follow from taking such an approach. Asemiotic and ecological view of language and of learning entails that thecontext – physical, social and symbolic – is a central element in teaching andlearning, and that issues such as embodiment of language and spatio-tem-poral structures are instrumental in the creation of learning opportunities.The approach emphasizes the development of the learner’s social self andidentity within the context of a democratic community of learning. At thepractical level the presentation will discuss project-based learning and theroles of modeling, scaffolding and collaborative learning.