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Learning and Teaching a Language

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097 Nurul Hilmy
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Learning and Teaching a Language

Uploaded by

097 Nurul Hilmy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Learning and Teaching

a Language

English for Educators


Compiled by
Dea Silvani, M.Pd.

081329865508
[email protected]
Agenda Style
1 What is Language?

2 Why English?

3 L1 vs Second and/or Foreign Language

4 Stories of Foreign Language Learning


What is
Language?
Definition of Language

Language a system. It is not an abstract code, but a system


that enables us to communicate meaning. We need to mas-
ter this system in order to be able to use the language effec-
tively for communication.
Elements of Language

Lexis Skills Genre

Grammar Pronunciation Discourse


Communicative Competence

The ability to ‘express, interpret and negotiate meaning’ irrespective


of context. (Savignon, 2002)
Implication of Communicative Competence
on Language Teaching
• Teaching students to be able to use the language socially and professionally
to develop effective communication between students.

• We do not have to speak or expect our students to speak like natives. English
is a universal language respectful of different cultures. Now we refer to ESOL
(English to speakers of other languages) and we also talk of “Englishes”

• We apply communicative competence to have fluent students and learner-


centeredness.

• Speakers often need to adjust their language to ‘accommodate’ the listener


Why English?
English is the most widely-used language in the world.

• Education :
 To apply to study abroad
 Language used for scientific research
 To use Internet in Education

• Jobs :
Because…  Employees nowadays are expected to demonstrate
competence in English language and strong computer
skills.

Can you think of some more reasons why we should learn


English?
Stages of Language Learning Motivation
Williams and Burden (1997)

Sustaining
Reason for
the effort to
doing
do some-
something
thing

Deciding to do
something
L1
vs
Second /
Foreign
Language
L1 vs SL/FL

L1  (First Language / Mother Tongue) Acquired at home


and used by the society

Second / Foreign Language  Language learnt in school


Learning L1

• Immersion into a natural context

• Learning through participating in social activities, that enables us to develop


the language repertoire we need for different communication situations.
Foreign Language Learning

1. How many languages have you learnt?


2. What makes them different or similar for you?
3. What can teachers and curriculum designers do to bring the natural
language learning characteristics into the classroom?
What to keep in mind…

People are different.


They process information in different ways, they learn in different ways and if
the language teacher does not use a variety of activities and techniques in their
classroom then in all likelihood some students will fail to learn.
These students fail not because they can’t learn, but because their learning
style is not catered for.
Based on the quotations, what determines success in learning a
language other than L1?

Learning a second/foreign language is ultimately learning to be another social


person.” Crookal and Oxford (1998: 136)

Languages are unlike any other subject taught in a classroom in that they
involve the acquisition of skills and behaviour patterns which are characteristic
of another community.” Gardner (1985: 146)
Stories of foreign language learning
A few years ago I was going to do some work in Slovenia, a country close to
Italy and Austria in Europe. I decided it would be good to try to learn some of
the language – Slovenian – in order to make a good impression. I bought myself
a book called ‘Teach Yourself Slovenian’. For a few weeks I studied a couple
of hours a day. On the first day in the small town I was visiting I walked into a
shop selling postcards, stamps etc. I asked for a few things in the language
and was given the things I wanted. Finally, I asked how much it all cost. The
shopkeeper replied in Slovenian giving me the price. Unfortunately I simply
didn’t understand. After a few attempts she suddenly switched to English telling
me the price and then commenting on how good my spoken Slovenian was.
However good my speaking was the fact that I was unable to understand when
someone spoke to me meant that I was hardly communicatively competent. I
realised then how pointless it was to learn to speak but not learn to listen.
Assignment
Do you have your own story of learning a foreign language? Use
metaphors to
express what learning foreign language means to you, and give a brief de-
scription of your metaphors.

• Learning a language is a journey through a jungle!


• Teaching a language is like having a bank account, if you don’t deposit and draw
money regularly, part of your sum will be useless (you need interaction) don’t just
keep it there.
• English learning is a well if you don’t take water out of it dries
Thank you

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