Negotiation of Target Language Discourse in Foreign Language Learning

1999 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Eckerth

This study investigates discourse in foreign language classes where the focus is both on form and on meaning, i.e. discourse where students talkin and about the foreign language. Two clasroom activities are analysed. First, language-related questions posed by students in a German as a second language class, and second, text reproduction tasks in a German as a foreign language class at a Dutch secondary school. During these activities students construct and verbalise hypotheses about the structure of the foreign language. It is argued that recording these verbalisations supplies data which allow insights into ongoing learning processes concerning the interaction of the learners' internal L2-knowledge with the perceived L2-input. Both activities are discussed on acquisitional, methodological and didactic levels. It is concluded that they represent significant learning opportunities and that they should be further developed.

Author(s):  
Ryuko Kubota

Historically, foreign language education in Japan has been influenced by local and global conditions. Of the two major purposes of learning a language—to gain new knowledge from overseas and to develop practical communication skills—the latter pragmatic orientation became dominant toward the end the 19th century, when access to foreign language learning increased and English became a dominant language to learn. The trend of learning English as an international language for pragmatic purposes has been further strengthened since the 1980s under the discourses of internationalization and neoliberal globalization. An overview of the current status of foreign language education reveals that there are both formal and non-formal learning opportunities for people of all ages; English predominates as a target language although fewer opportunities to learn other languages exist; English is taught at primary and secondary schools and universities with an emphasis on acquiring communicative skills, although the exam-oriented instructional practices contradict the official goal; and adults learn foreign languages, mainly English, for various reasons, including career advancement and hobbyist enjoyment. Such observations include contestations and contradictions. For instance, there have been debates on whether the major aim of learning English should be pragmatic or intellectual. These debates have taken place against the backdrop of the fact that the learning of a foreign language—de facto English—is much more prevalent in society in the early 21st century compared with previous periods in history, when access to learning opportunities was limited to elites. Another contradiction is between the multilingual reality in local and global communities and the exclusive emphasis on teaching English. This gap can be critically analyzed through a critical realist lens, through which multilayers of ideology in discourses and realities in the material world are examined. The predominance of English is driven by a neoliberal ideology that conceptualizes English as a global language with economic benefit, while testing and shadow education enterprises perpetuate the emphasis on English language teaching. The political economy of foreign language education also explains the longstanding socioeconomic disparity in English ability.


2022 ◽  
Vol 0 (45) ◽  
pp. 177-209
Author(s):  
Khaldoon Atta Samyan ◽  

Songs are considered as an educational and a substantial dependable references used in teaching and learning, particularly the so - called foreign language learning that allows learners to adapt to the target language culture and to develop their language learning skills including: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking and writing. Consequently, it can be said that the Francophone songs with the musical richness and resonance specifically facilities French language learning skills for all levels of education and achieve short and long terms predetermined educational language learning goals. In fact, language learning through songs method does not only include the cultural, musical, and heritage content of the language but rather includes the entire rich linguistic features that enable to master social linguistic field. It exceeds topographical and political limits to attain different cultures and communities’ interference. Additionally, learning through songs and music method plays an important role in French language learning. It represents one of the French languages most significant and reliable cultural and vernacular language learning reference. Out of French language teaching experience in Iraq, it is obvious that through songs and music language learning method represents such a vital element in the learning process that facilitates and supports the classroom linguistic and educational activities. The present study considers the advantages of teaching songs in French as a foreign language learning method ( FLE ) that helps the acquisitions of the oral and written language learning skills. Résumé La chanson, présente bel et bien en force dans notre vie quotidienne. Elle est considérée comme un document authentique de qualité à exploiter dans l’enseignement-apprentissage des langues surtout dites secondaires ou étrangère surtout. Le présent article traite la question de l'exploitation de la chanson comme support éducatif en classe de FLE. Un usage qui ne se limite pas uniquement aux apports linguistiques mais qui renvoie aussi à des réalités de la (des) culture(s) de la francophonie. Dans l’enseignement de la langue étrangère, la chanson est considérée comme un moyen pédagogique qui permet aux apprenants de s’accommoder à la culture de la langue-cible afin de développer les quatre compétences langagières (The four skills), à savoir celles de ; la compréhension de l’oral, la compréhension de l’écrit, l’expression de l’oral et celle de l’écrit. On peut dire donc que la chanson francophone, avec sa richesse musicale et ses qualités dites ludiques où se côtoient plaisir et désir. Cet avantage procure aux apprenants de différents âges et de différents niveaux une réception fortement positive, de laquelle peut émerger une multitude de manières plausibles d’exploitation d’un tel support en classe de FLE. L'important, serait donc, l’atteinte des objectifs finaux prédéterminés à long ou à court terme. En effet, la richesse de l’apprentissage par la chanson dépasse le contenu culturel, le musical, le patrimonial pour enfermer entre ses entrailles une variété linguistique qui en fait un champ fertile d’investigation dans le domaine de la sociolinguistique. Or, elle constitue un bon messager, voire un bon étrier qui efface les frontières politico-topographique et unit les peuples francophones par le bon brassage des cultures, et ce en partant de l’idée maitresse suivante « No mans land ». Par conséquent, l’enseignement-apprentissage de/par la chanson joue un rôle colossal dans la classe de FLE et qu'il ne faut guère hésiter à l'exploiter, car il permet une connaissance adéquate de la langue et de la culture françaises ou ce qu’on peut appeler la lexiculture. Lors de notre expérience dans le domaine de l'enseignement-apprentissage de la langue française en Irak, nous avons constaté l'utilisation du support en question comme élément fondamentale qui permet le soutien des activités linguistiques et pédagogiques en classe de FLE. Dans cet article, nous tenterions de mettre en exergue les avantages de l’enseignement-apprentissage de/par la chanson en classe de FLE, voire ses impacts prétendument favorables de ce support et son exploitation pour une motivation dynamique qui permet aux apprenants d’améliorer leurs compétences langagières sur tous les plans, qu’ils soient oraux ou écrits.


Author(s):  
Tuti Hidayati

Learners’ difficulties in learning a foreign language cannot merely be linked to the lack of ability or intelligence. Language anxiety or the feeling of tension, apprehension, fearfulness, and worry in language class had been pointed to greatly influence learner’s progress in mastering the target language. Highly anxious learners were found to achieve less and had low motivation. This study reports a survey investigating the level of language anxiety and its perceived causes and discusses some alternatives to deal with it. The participants were 114 non-English major students in State Islamic College of Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh in West Aceh. Data were collected employing Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope, (1986). The finding indicated that the students participating in the study exhibited a moderate level of language anxiety obtaining FLCAS mean score 102.17. The main cause of language anxiety was attributed to fear of negative evaluation with the highest average mean 3,5. Communication apprehension and test anxiety were in the second and third rank with the average mean 3,3 and 3,1 respectively. Meanwhile, English classroom items were perceived to contribute the least to the students’ tense experience given the average mean 2,7. It is suggested that making the learners realize that they are not alone experiencing anxiety in learning a foreign language is crucial. Furthermore, it is important that teachers embrace a supportive and non-threatening role to provide a more effective foreign language learning.


2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lela-Rose Engler

The use of virtual chatrooms for foreign language learning processes has lead to new research questions in the area of language acquisition. Assuming the differences between tutored and untutored chats tutored chats do not only offer the opportunity of synchronous communication between native and non-native speakers but also support the development of language abilities as reading and writing in the target language. In distance learning they can substitute for missing oral conversational classes. The conditions which either do or do not support the use of chatrooms have to be taken into account for planning and evaluating distance foreign language classes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Littlewood ◽  
Baohua Yu

For many decades, foreign language teaching has been dominated by the principle that teachers should use only the target language (TL) and avoid using the mother tongue (L1) except as a last resort. However, reports show that teachers make extensive use of the L1. This paper illustrates this discrepancy and considers some main reasons for it. It suggests a framework of principles for balancing L1 and TL use in the classroom. Finally, it reviews some strategies available to teachers who wish to make maximal use of the TL without denying the potential of the L1 to support foreign language learning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
Liaquat A. Channa ◽  
Daniel Gilhooly ◽  
Charles A. Lynn ◽  
Syed A. Manan ◽  
Niaz Hussain Soomro

Abstract This theoretical review paper investigates the role of first language (L1) in the mainstream scholarship of second/foreign (L2/FL) language education in the context of language learning, teaching, and bilingual education. The term ‘mainstream’ refers here to the scholarship that is not informed by sociocultural theory in general and Vygotskian sociocultural theory in particular. The paper later explains a Vygotskian perspective on the use of L1 in L2/FL language education and discusses how the perspective may help content teachers in (a) employing L1 in teaching L2/FL content and (b) helping L2/FL students to become self-regulative users of the target language.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maram S. Almohaimeed ◽  
Huda M. Almurshed

Whether to avoid learners’ first language (L1) or to make use of it in the second language (L2) classes is a controversial issue. Some studies have challenged the effectiveness of the monolingual approach to foreign language learning. This study investigates Saudi university learners’ attitudes and perceptions towards incorporating their L1(Arabic) in English class. This study also sheds light into the relationship between students’ perceptions and proficiency level in the target language. To this end, Gaebler's questionnaire (2014) was administered to 60 female learners studying in the preparatory year at a Saudi university. They were from three different English proficiency levels. The results showed that advanced learners hold a negative attitude towards the use of L1 in their English classes, whereas elementary and intermediate learners generally perceive the judicious use of their L1 positively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-21
Author(s):  
Marie-Paule Muller-Jaecki

La classe de langue étrangère, par la transformation du corps propre qu’elle présuppose afin d’accéder à un nouveau corps social, place-t-elle l’élève en situation de handicap et génère-t-elle de la souffrance ? Est-il possible de l’éviter ? La réflexion menée part de l’observation d’expériences vécues en danse contemporaine autour de la création de performances incluant des danseurs en situation de handicap. L’analyse de la démarche pédagogique adoptée fait émerger des constantes qui contribuent à l’inclusion de chaque danseur. Elle peut être source d’inspiration pour l’enseignant afin de construire une dynamique d’apprentissage d’une langue étrangère où chaque élève se sente compétent. Otherness and inclusion. What can contemporary dance bring to the foreign language class for learners to access a new social body? The foreign language class implies a transformation of the learner’s own body in order to access a new social body. Does it thereby handicap pupils, generating suffering? Is it possible to avoid this? The following reflection starts from the observation of experiences in contemporary dance, related to the creation of performances including disabled dancers. The analysis of the pedagogy reveals constants which contribute to the inclusion of every dancer. It can inspire teachers in order to design a foreign language learning approach in which each pupil feels competent.


Author(s):  
Firooz Sadighi ◽  
Shahrzad Chahardahcherik ◽  
Maryam Delfariyan ◽  
Fariba Feyzbar

In Iran the age of learning English as a foreign language is decreasing yearly. It is obvious that learning English at a very early age is a most appropriate time to start. The investigation in this study is focused on the speech act of request. Instructional effects of learning request strategies are assessed in preschoolers who received instruction to find out whether the exposure to the foreign language learning enhances the development of request strategy use and brings about changes in their first language strategy use features. The data were collected from 10 preschool Iranian learners of English as a foreign language. The participants of the study took a two-semester speaking course in an academic setting in Iran. The study had a pretest and posttest design in which 10 conversations were used including polite request strategies of English to analyze instructional effects on the learners’ first language after the posttest, by comparing and measuring the backward transfer against the pretest results. The oral task was in the form of role plays which were also utilized for communicative practice with the learners. The data were rated for the extent of a foreign language effect on the first language by experienced tutors and linguistic analyses were done to identify the foreign language components of request strategies features in the first language production. Results showed that frequent use of English request strategy features in the first language was an indication of L2 students’ beneficial experience in their L1.


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