Unit 1 Language and Language Learning
Aims of the unit
In this unit we will discuss some general matters about language learning and teaching. We are going to discuss five questions on particular: 1. How do we learn language
2. What are the common views on language
3. What are the common views on language learning 4. What are the qualities of a good language teacher 5. How can one become a good language teacher
1.1 How do we learn languages
Mach of human behavior is influenced by their experiences. The way language teachers teach in the classroom is to some extent influenced by the way they learned languages. This is especially true in foreign language teaching. Before we discuss language learning theories, let us first reflect on our own language learning experience. Task 1
Below is a list of interview questions on how people learn a foreign language. In the first column, write down your own responses. Then interview three other students in your class and enter their responses in the other columns. Discuss your findings in group of 4 and draw some conclusion.
You ST1 ST2 ST3 1. How many foreign languages can you speak so far 2. When did you start learning the foreign language(s) 3. How do you feel about learning a foreign language 4. What difficulties have you experienced in learning 5. Which skill do you find more difficult to learn 6. Have you focused on knowledge or skills Why 7. Why do you learn the foreign language(s) 8. Do you consider yourself a successful learner Why 9. What are your most common learning activities 10. Do you like the way you learned the foreign language(s) From the above task, you may have found that 1) people started learning a foreign language at different ages; 2) people have different experiences in learning a foreign language, some find it easy, some find it difficult; 3) people learn languages for different reasons; 4) people learn languages in different ways; 5) people have different understandings about language learning; 6) people have different capacities in language learning; 7) learning can be affected by the way it is taught; 8) learning is affected by the degree of success one is expected to achieve; and more. Thus the challenge confronting language teaching is how teaching methodology can ensure successful learning by all the learners who have more differences than the commonality.
1.2 views on language
The question that all approaches to language teaching should answer is, ‘what is language’ The answer to this question is the basis for syllabus designs, teaching methodology, teaching and assessment procedures in the classroom. Different views on language generate different teaching methodologies. Task 2
Work in group of 4. Brainstorm possible answer to the question: what is language When you are ready, join another group and share your ideas. To give a concise definition of language has always been difficult for linguists and philogists. Although there has been an enormous amount of research in language in the past century, no authoritative answer has been given to ‘what is language’ rather, people have settle down to talk about views of language, seemingly allowing for or accepting different theories for the moment. However, language teachers clearly need to know generally what sort of entity they are dealing with and how the particular language they are teaching fits into that entity (Brown, 1994a). for sample definition of ‘language’ , please refer to Appendix 1.
Structural view
The structural view of language sees language as a linguistic system made up of various subsystems (Larsen-Freeman & Long, 1991): the sound system (phonology); the discrete units of meaning produced by sound combinations (morphology), and the system of combining units of meaning for
communication (syntax). Each language has a finite number of such structural items. To learn a language means to learn these structural items so as to be able to understand and produce language. When this structural view of language was combined with the stimulus-response principles of behaviorist psychology, the audio-lingual approach to language learning emerged.
Functional view
In the 1960s, British linguists developed a system of categories based on the communicative needs of the learner (Johnson and Marrow, 1981) and proposed a syllabus based on communicative functions. The functional view not only sees languages as a linguistic system but also a means for doing things. Most of our day-to-day language use involves functional activities: offering, suggesting, advising, apologizing, etc. therefore, learners learn a language in order to be able to do with it. In order to perform functions, learners need to know how to combine the grammatical rules and the vocabulary to express notions that perform the functions. Examples of notions are the concept of present, past and future time, the expressions of certainty and possibility, the roles of agents, instruments with a sentence, and special relationships between people and objects.
Interactional view
The interactional view considers language to be a communicative tool, whose main use is to build up and maintain social relations between people. Therefore, learners not only need to know the grammar and vocabulary of the language but as importantly they need to know the rules for using them
in a whole range of communicative contexts.
These three views present an ever wider view of language. The structural view limits knowing a language to knowing its structural rules and vocabulary. The communicative or notional-functional view adds the need to know how to use the rules and vocabulary to do whatever it is one wants to do. The interactional view says that to know how to do what you want to do involves also knowing whether it is appropriate to do, and where, when and how it is appropriate to do it. In order to know this, you have to study the patterns and rules of language above the sentence level to learn how language is used in different speech contexts.
The understanding of the nature of language may provide the basis for a particular teaching method (Richard and Rodgers, 1986), but more importantly, it is closely related to the understanding of language learning. If language is considered to have a finite number of structural items, learning the language probably means learning these items. If language is more than just a system of structures, it is more importantly a tool then to learn the language learning. If language is more than just a system of structures, it is more importantly a tool, then to learn the language means to use it, rather than just study what it is and how it is formed. The next section discusses some current theories about language learning.
Views on Language learning and learning in general
A language learning theory underlying an approach or method usually answers two questions; 1) What are the psycholinguistic and cognitive processes involved in language learning 2) What are the conditions that
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