Abstract:

In order to support students who need to strengthen their learning processes regarding a particular area of their training discipline, the UV (University of Veracruz) promotes tutorial teaching programs at its different departments. In an attempt to take part in this activity, as EFL (English Foreign Language) teachers at the UV, we have designed and carried out two tutorial teaching programs aimed at helping EFL beginners develop two language skills: listening and writing. The tutorial teaching program on listening strategies was designed after realizing students’ listening comprehension difficulties through some of the listening tasks they are involved in as beginners. The latter emerged from observation of students’ current needs to produce short pieces of writing through guided composition tasks. This paper describes features of each of these programs such as the objectives, the contents, the teaching methodology, the activities and materials, and the evaluation procedures employed. It also gives details about their implementation, their evaluation in terms of their effectiveness, and future improvements. Overall, some of the outcomes of putting into practice both the listening and the writing tutorial teaching programs mirrored students’ improvement in their listening and writing abilities and development of their self-confidence.

Keywords:

Tutorial teaching programs, listening comprehension, writing, guided composition.