The Program

The methodology of Inglese Dinamico is based upon the work of Nancy Rose Steinbock, M.A., an American-trained speech/language pathologist who for many years specialized in language acquisition and reading and writing difficulties in children and adults in the United States. The rich research conducted for many years in speech/language acquisition, developmental language difficulties, psycholinguistics, socio-linguistics and bilingual education has provided the foundation for the teaching principles of the project.

A crucial tenet of the program is that English is not taught didactically through traditional teaching methodology. Therefore, the term "teacher" is replaced with "language facilitator" as the language is transmitted through guided learning in which the facilitators engage both children and adults in natural, dynamic experiences which are related to activities of daily living or which enhance the opportulnity to see, feel, hear and speak English in context.

Scaffolded learning that teaches the phonological, gestural system and other social cues necessary for understanding and producing meaningful exchanges in English is emphasized. Vocabulary and grammar are produced in spontaneous, guided situations that provide the learner with entrance in English language in action that is effective and efficient for a multitude of communicative purposes.

Active strategies for understanding, acquiring and producing the language functions of English are emphasized. Participants then can learn in regular sessions with facilitators and are encouraged to activate their knowledge independently through activities available via current multi-media technology readily available in their daily lives. Informal conversational forms or social forms, for example, for the types of exchanges participants would make to their contemporaries in peer group activities as well as formal language that emphasizes increasingly correct and elegant forms for sophisticated conversational exchanges and written communication are integrated naturally into the speech/language forms of the various programs.

Socio-Linguistic Philosophy

Inglese Dinamico recognizes the importance of the varieties of English. Therefore, there is not one form which is preferred over another, allowing the learners to acquire both major mother tongue forms, American and British Englishes. While accent reduction training and the phonological system are basically American in their orientation since the trend is to learn the more open pronunciation system of American English, the forms embrace the concept of English without borders, i.e., flexibility across the language is essential for the best interpersonal/intercultural communication. In addition, facilitators educate all participants to the acceptance and the appreciation for the various English languages which have emerged in other cultures around the globe.

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