Please see my post "Teach Mother Tongue As Mother Tongue in Community Schools".
How is teaching Tamil as mother tongue to these kids possible? When we learned mother tongue (L1), we were in that linguistic environment. These kids are in different environment. When we learned first language (L1), there was no other language to interfere. But when we learn a second language(L2) the first language (L1) interferes. When we learned L1, we used it regularly, but these do not.
These are the arguments against not teach Tamil as the way we acquired Tamil. These are valid arguments. But, with right goal, right approach, and with right lesson plan, it is possible to teach Tamil as the way we acquired Tamil.
Stephen Krashen, a popular linguistic published "The Natural Approach to Teach a Second Language". He has Ph.D in grammar and he says the grammar was his life. He taught English to ESL students using the Grammar approach. By grammar approach he means teaching the language using the language rules, that is giving literacy skill. In 1970s, after several studies, he concluded that the language rules based teaching does not work. He said helping the students to acquire (instead of learn) the language is the right way. He concludes that it is possible and is also a right way to teach a language as the way we acquired the first language. He called this approach The Natural Approach.
He discusses five hypothesis that supports the natural approach. These are ...
1. Learning Vs Acquisition Hypothesis
There are two ways a language competency is developed, learning and acquiring. There is difference between learning a language and acquiring a language. While adults may learn or acquire, the kids only acquire the language.
Learning is a conscious effort to know about the language, it's letters, grammar rules, etc. Due to nature of conscious effort, the learned lessons are saved in the conscious short term memory and takes long time to push it to the subconscious, long term memory.
Acquisition is a subconscious effort where one "picks up" the language and registers in the long term memory. You do not have to know the rules. But when you understand what you hear, you will use it from your subconscious mind.
The idea is to help the students to acquire the language using methods such as TPRS.
2. Natural order hypothesis
This hypothesis states that the kids acquire the language in certain order. Easy language elements first and gradually progress. The language classes must be designed to take advantage of this natural order.
3. Input hypothesis
This hypothesis states that we acquire the language in one way and only one way. That is, when we understand the message. The concept Comprehensible Input is introduced. We have to give the input to kids that they can understand. When they understand, they enjoy, they acquire slowly and the speech will emerge.
4. Monitor Hypothesis
This hypothesis states that the conscious correction of language use in the class does not help. When we acquired L1, the amount of correction is very minimal. We need to do the same in the class. Allow the kids to understand the right away to use a language instead of correcting them.
5. Affective filter hypothesis
Three things play an important role in acquiring a language, motivation, self esteem, and anxiety. We need to motivate the kids to involve in the language activities in the class. We have to make them believe they can learn the language. We must help them lower their anxiety. When you are not motivated, do not believe you can you can learn the language, or anxious about learning the language, the affective filter goes up and blocks the given input to teach the subconscious mind.
Hence he says "we acquire the language when we understand the message in a low anxiety environment".
In his book he also talks about how to help the kids acquire the language, how to design the curriculum, how to structure the class activities, how to test etc using the Natural approach concept.
He says let the goal of the language class be to develop communicative skill instead of academic skill. This is very similar to Language skill instead of Literacy skill.
Conclusion
Let us define the right long term goal, make our plan to reach this goal using the right approach, and help the kids acquire Tamil for a long term need.
Thanks
Logu
How is teaching Tamil as mother tongue to these kids possible? When we learned mother tongue (L1), we were in that linguistic environment. These kids are in different environment. When we learned first language (L1), there was no other language to interfere. But when we learn a second language(L2) the first language (L1) interferes. When we learned L1, we used it regularly, but these do not.
These are the arguments against not teach Tamil as the way we acquired Tamil. These are valid arguments. But, with right goal, right approach, and with right lesson plan, it is possible to teach Tamil as the way we acquired Tamil.
Stephen Krashen, a popular linguistic published "The Natural Approach to Teach a Second Language". He has Ph.D in grammar and he says the grammar was his life. He taught English to ESL students using the Grammar approach. By grammar approach he means teaching the language using the language rules, that is giving literacy skill. In 1970s, after several studies, he concluded that the language rules based teaching does not work. He said helping the students to acquire (instead of learn) the language is the right way. He concludes that it is possible and is also a right way to teach a language as the way we acquired the first language. He called this approach The Natural Approach.
1. Learning Vs Acquisition Hypothesis
There are two ways a language competency is developed, learning and acquiring. There is difference between learning a language and acquiring a language. While adults may learn or acquire, the kids only acquire the language.
Learning is a conscious effort to know about the language, it's letters, grammar rules, etc. Due to nature of conscious effort, the learned lessons are saved in the conscious short term memory and takes long time to push it to the subconscious, long term memory.
Acquisition is a subconscious effort where one "picks up" the language and registers in the long term memory. You do not have to know the rules. But when you understand what you hear, you will use it from your subconscious mind.
The idea is to help the students to acquire the language using methods such as TPRS.
2. Natural order hypothesis
This hypothesis states that the kids acquire the language in certain order. Easy language elements first and gradually progress. The language classes must be designed to take advantage of this natural order.
3. Input hypothesis
This hypothesis states that we acquire the language in one way and only one way. That is, when we understand the message. The concept Comprehensible Input is introduced. We have to give the input to kids that they can understand. When they understand, they enjoy, they acquire slowly and the speech will emerge.
4. Monitor Hypothesis
This hypothesis states that the conscious correction of language use in the class does not help. When we acquired L1, the amount of correction is very minimal. We need to do the same in the class. Allow the kids to understand the right away to use a language instead of correcting them.
5. Affective filter hypothesis
Three things play an important role in acquiring a language, motivation, self esteem, and anxiety. We need to motivate the kids to involve in the language activities in the class. We have to make them believe they can learn the language. We must help them lower their anxiety. When you are not motivated, do not believe you can you can learn the language, or anxious about learning the language, the affective filter goes up and blocks the given input to teach the subconscious mind.
Hence he says "we acquire the language when we understand the message in a low anxiety environment".
In his book he also talks about how to help the kids acquire the language, how to design the curriculum, how to structure the class activities, how to test etc using the Natural approach concept.
He says let the goal of the language class be to develop communicative skill instead of academic skill. This is very similar to Language skill instead of Literacy skill.
Conclusion
Let us define the right long term goal, make our plan to reach this goal using the right approach, and help the kids acquire Tamil for a long term need.
Thanks
Logu
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