Promoting and Working on Cognitive Skills through Videos and Drawings in the EFL classroom

Abstract

[eng] This research aims to promote and work on the students’ cognitive skills in the EFL1 classroom in order to facilitate interpersonal relations among them and with the surrounding society through short videos and drawings. To that end, a didactic proposal of six lessons is designed for forth of ESO students to work on their social skills whilst enhancing their English-language proficiency and academic performance. The proposal is based on a cognitive skills training of a social competence programme inspired by Professor Robert R. Ross of University of Ottawa that has proved very successful so far. Hence, the theoretical part of this paper presents a general overview of the bases that underpin it. Special attention is paid to the development proposals of one of the human intelligence types proposed by Gardner, which is the interpersonal intelligence (Gardner, 1983). However, the primary focus lies on the five interpersonal cognitive problemsolving (ICPS) skills identified by Spivack and Shure before Gardner.