Paul Nation's Four Strands
Core idea
Balanced language diet
Not only grammar
Not only speaking
Not only fun tasks
Four equal strands
Input
Output
Language focus
Fluency
Teacher question
Is it attractive?
Is it effective?
Is it balanced?
Balanced language diet
Not only grammar
Not only speaking
Not only fun tasks
Meaning-focused input
Main goal
Understand messages
Focus on meaning
Receive useful English
Typical tasks
Read texts
Watch videos
Listen to stories
Follow dialogues
Teacher checklist
Is content meaningful?
Is level manageable?
Is there real interest?
TBT examples
Articles
Video lessons
Comprehension questions
Book-based lessons
Meaning-focused output
Main goal
Express ideas
Use language socially
Communicate meaning
Typical tasks
Discussions
Role-plays
Short presentations
Written responses
Teacher checklist
Do students speak?
Do they have ideas?
Is there a real purpose?
TBT examples
Warm-up questions
Discussion prompts
Model answers
Dialogues
Teacher takeaway
Attractive is not enough
Balance creates progress
Small routines matter
Design for real use
Lesson balance
Good lesson includes
Something to understand
Something to say
Something to notice
Something to automatise
Possible imbalance
Too much input
Too much grammar
Too much free talk
Too little fluency
Practical solution
Add small missing strand
Reuse lesson material
Keep tasks simple
Fluency development
Main goal
Use known language
Speak more smoothly
Build confidence
Key principle
Mostly familiar language
Light time pressure
Less hesitation
Typical tasks
60-second speaking
Retelling stories
Quick recall
Repeat and improve
Teacher checklist
Is material familiar?
Is speed encouraged?
Is perfection avoided?
Language-focused learning
Main goal
Notice language
Build accuracy
Learn useful forms
Typical areas
Vocabulary
Grammar
Pronunciation
Collocations
Chunks
Teacher checklist
Is language clear?
Is it reusable?
Is there practice?