We cannot really teach a language; we can only create conditions under which it will develop in the mind in it's own way - Noam Chomsky.
What is a condition? It is a context. Teach using contexts. Many experts say this.
Dr. Pimsluer's 4th Principle says:
Dr. Krashen's Comprehensible Input hypothesis is about context
Dr. Ray's TPRStorytelling is about contexts:
Involve the kids in language acquisition activities. Help them master vocabularies in an interesting ways using stories. They should comprehend the vocabulary in the beginning and retrieve and use in their output (speech and writing) later in their own way.
Dr. Kumar dedicated one full chapter for Contexts in this book Beyond Methods.
This all means teaching language using contexts is a valuable technique.
What is a context?
Why to create contexts?
How to create contexts?
I will try to answer these questions in this post.
What is a context?
When talking about classroom and outside environment for language acquisition, Dr. Krashen says we must give the learners interesting and comprehensible input. Comprehensible Input makes acquiring a language easy. Interesting input helps to lower the affective filter and thereby increasing their motivation to learn the language.
He further says we can structure the class to give comprehensible input, but, giving interesting input is a challenge. Whereas the outside environment provides interesting and relevant input, but it is not comprehensible for beginners. The class can give comprehensible input, but it may not be very interesting. A context helps us to make the class interesting and comprehensible.
A language is developed for the purpose of real life communication. These real life situations are contexts. It only makes sense we structure our class to practice the kids in using the language in real life situations. That is the context.
Example: Let us says you want to teach the words எழுந்திரு, உட்கார், நில், கை, கால், இடது, வலது...
Some ways to teach this are:
Let us teach them how to do தோப்புக்கரணம்.
Teacher models a word or phrase. To model a word or phrase: say the word, show the meaning, and do the action. We can do the following.
This is the context. May not be that interesting. But, more effective than learning thru other methods. How do we make it interesting? TPRS can help.
Why to create context?
In our schools, the kids learn the language through whatever method the teacher uses. But, living in a diaspora world, they have very limited opportunity to use the language outside the classroom. Hence it is important that we bring that outside to the classrooms.
The kids do not care about the language; they do not care of learning another language; they do not care about identity thingy... It is the parents who want them to learn the language. Then how do we put the ownership of learning Tamil in the kids' minds? It is by making learning Tamil interesting.
Making the class interesting does not mean playing some games. It has to be more than that. We have to create situations that will make them think "I want to know what it is", "I want to do that" ... When the kids reach this level, they are ready to acquire the language for long term retention.
How do we create contexts?
Conclusion
Creating contexts and teaching thru contexts increases learners motivation and also helps them to acquire language easily and for long term retention.
நன்றி
லோகு
What is a condition? It is a context. Teach using contexts. Many experts say this.
Dr. Pimsluer's 4th Principle says:
Organic Learning
Every new item introduced in a Pimsleur course is given within the context of a conversation or exchange. This helps learning and retention in a multitude of ways, from allowing your brain to automatically integrate intonation, rhythm, melody, and pronunciation, to embedding prompts for your memory. When you need a word, it’s there – seamlessly on the tip of your tongue.Dr. Krashen's Comprehensible Input hypothesis is about context
Dr. Ray's TPRStorytelling is about contexts:
From Fluency through TPR Storytelling book by, Dr. Blaine Ray. This the very first paragraph in chapter 1.
All small children virtually learn languages in contexts.
Involve the kids in language acquisition activities. Help them master vocabularies in an interesting ways using stories. They should comprehend the vocabulary in the beginning and retrieve and use in their output (speech and writing) later in their own way.
Dr. Kumar dedicated one full chapter for Contexts in this book Beyond Methods.
This all means teaching language using contexts is a valuable technique.
What is a context?
Why to create contexts?
How to create contexts?
I will try to answer these questions in this post.
What is a context?
When talking about classroom and outside environment for language acquisition, Dr. Krashen says we must give the learners interesting and comprehensible input. Comprehensible Input makes acquiring a language easy. Interesting input helps to lower the affective filter and thereby increasing their motivation to learn the language.
He further says we can structure the class to give comprehensible input, but, giving interesting input is a challenge. Whereas the outside environment provides interesting and relevant input, but it is not comprehensible for beginners. The class can give comprehensible input, but it may not be very interesting. A context helps us to make the class interesting and comprehensible.
A language is developed for the purpose of real life communication. These real life situations are contexts. It only makes sense we structure our class to practice the kids in using the language in real life situations. That is the context.
Example: Let us says you want to teach the words எழுந்திரு, உட்கார், நில், கை, கால், இடது, வலது...
Some ways to teach this are:
- Translation method
- show and tell
- sentence forming exercise
Let us teach them how to do தோப்புக்கரணம்.
Teacher models a word or phrase. To model a word or phrase: say the word, show the meaning, and do the action. We can do the following.
- எல்லோரும் எழுந்திருங்க.
Say the words, show எழுந்திருங்க with hands, and also get up. - இந்த (வலது) கையை தூக்குங்க
- இந்த (இடது) காதை பிடிங்க
- உட்காருங்க
- எழுந்திருங்க
- மறுபடியும் உட்காருங்க
- repeat this few times.
This is the context. May not be that interesting. But, more effective than learning thru other methods. How do we make it interesting? TPRS can help.
Why to create context?
In our schools, the kids learn the language through whatever method the teacher uses. But, living in a diaspora world, they have very limited opportunity to use the language outside the classroom. Hence it is important that we bring that outside to the classrooms.
The kids do not care about the language; they do not care of learning another language; they do not care about identity thingy... It is the parents who want them to learn the language. Then how do we put the ownership of learning Tamil in the kids' minds? It is by making learning Tamil interesting.
Making the class interesting does not mean playing some games. It has to be more than that. We have to create situations that will make them think "I want to know what it is", "I want to do that" ... When the kids reach this level, they are ready to acquire the language for long term retention.
How do we create contexts?
- Shopping
- Travel
- Get something from the office
- Sell something to others
- Pretend "go to a movie"
Conclusion
Creating contexts and teaching thru contexts increases learners motivation and also helps them to acquire language easily and for long term retention.
நன்றி
லோகு
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