Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

Language Teaching is about

• Defining language goal; what we want the learners to be able to do with the language.
• Understanding the principles behind how we acquire language
• Planning the classroom activities based on the principles that will help us reach our language goal.
• Define and plan the role of teachers and learners and implement that in the class.

The communicative language teaching approach developed in the 1970s provide a good framework second language programs.

Content Based Instruction (CBT), and Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) are good tools to implement CLT.

What should the syllabus be like?

Teach Tamil for specific purpose instead of general language material.

Classroom activities: plan real life situations instead of reading textbooks and doing language drill exercises.

Focus on fluency first and then accuracy.

Implement information gap activities. It means activities that requires learners to get information they do not have.

Have a open ended discussion topic of learners’ interest.

Go for process based approaches instead of product based approach.

Conclusion

Lots of good opportunities exist to take Tamil to our next generation. We can consider using CLT in community schools like ours.

But wait...

CLT is one of the several poplar language teaching methods. While it is true that, CLT has advantages over grammar translation method, it can not meet the needs of all types of language learners. A trend has been emerging since 1990s and it is called "Post method conditioning". See trend in language education (TBD).

நன்றி

லோகு

Key Points in Language Teaching

Goals

Our goal is to help them build communication competency in Tamil.

Let the learners have fun using the language (vs doing language drills)

Learning multiple languages improves cognitive skill

Make the learners responsible for learning

Do not “teach” Tamil in Tamil school

Cancel homework, tests, and grades

Help develop intrinsic motivation in the learners

Get an advisor or mentor

Make language learning fun and interesting.

We might be able to install languages in distant future

Principles

Teach the language in context (instead of in isolation)

It takes time to acquire and build language in our brains

அகல உழுவதை விட ஆழ உழுவது நல்லது

Approaches, Methods, and Techniques

Teach a language Organically (instead of mechanically)

Think Language Acquisition (instead of language learning)

Teach grammar inductively (instead of deductively)

“Use the language to learn” (instead of learn the language to use)

Help build the core language

Give plenty of comprehensible and compelling input

There are many effective language teaching methods

Try TBLT, FVR, CBI, TPRS.

Avoid

Grammar translation method does not help!

Worksheets can cause demotivation

Translation exercise is injurious to language acquisition

Any kind of language drill could disinterest the learners

நன்றி

லோகு

Worksheets can cause de-motivation

Worksheets can cause de-motivation

Language experts says "the popular 'Language learning' techniques have values ranging from average to low in helping learners to develop language competency". But, they say "Worksheets" have negative value. Really? Interesting. Why do they say so? Does this mean using worksheets can unlearn a language? Does this mean they will lose the interest to learn the language if given to work on the worksheets? 

Other than helping the learners to memorize few language concepts for the tests and exams, I am interested in learning how the worksheets help the learners to develop language competency.

நன்றி

லோகு

Translation exercise is injurious to language acquisition

What is translation

Language programs include translation to native language; the learners translate text from target language to native language. This is seen as opportunity to build more vocabulary and language elements in the brain.

Where it came from

Over 150 years ago when foreign language learning was introduced in schools, their objective was to understand the literature in the foreign languages such as Greek and Latin. The goal was to understand the text in other languages, but ability to speak or use the target language in communication context was not an important goal. So, one of the key skills required to accomplish this language goal is translation from the target language to the native language.

Why was it used

As mentioned above the goal was to understand the literature in target language and also to bring good things to the native language. So, the translation is a key component of foreign language programs. If you are able to read text in the foreign language and explain in the native language, then you are considered proficient in that language.

What value does it add

The value the translation exercise provided was to bring foreign literature to native language, and appreciate the native language.

Is it good for heritage language learner?

What is the goal of heritage language program? The goal is to master communication competency in the heritage language. It is not clear how the translation exercise to native language helps.

What are the limitations?

Translation exercise does not help improve language skill in the target language.

Why we should not use translation exercise

மொழிபெயர்ப்பு என்பது அந்த மொழியை ஊறுகாய் போல தொட்டுக்கொண்டு Native language - ஐ அனுபவிப்பது போல. But, our goal is to master Tamil since it is our mother’s tongue if not mother tongue.

For the translation exercise, one works to find the right word in the native language. So, I will need to look at the words in the target language once and then think hard to find the equivalent word in English for example. So, this helps to utilize and experience the native language better.

Our goal is help the learner master the target language. But, the translation helps to improve the native language skill only. 

To develop language skill a learner needs lots of input in the target language using which we produce output. The translation (from L1 to L2) exercise gives input in L1 and output in L2, that is the main problem. The translation (from L2 to L1) exercise gives input in target language and output in L1. We need to have both input and output in the target language. So, the translation exercise violates one of them (input or output).

Conclusion

I recommend not to use translations in the language programs. I can at least accept translating from target language to native language where necessary, but can never accept translating from native language to target language.

நன்றி

லோகு

Mechanical Learning Vs Organic Learning

Most language programs are mechanical in nature; that is, a second language is taught as individual pieces, such as words and grammar rules, hoping the learners will get the language and use it one day. This is called Mechanical learning (ML). The focus is more on learning the language elements than developing communication competency.

Mechanical learning helps very little to develop language competency.

The other way is Organic learning (OL). Here is what Dr. Pimsleur says about Organic learning.

Every new language item is introduced within the context of a conversation or exchange. This helps learning and retention in a multitude of ways, from allowing our 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.

Many language  programs are now using communicative approach. The communicative language teaching approach uses Organic learning directly or indirectly.  Many scholars such as Dr. Ray, Dr. Krashen and so on  recommend organic learning. Dr. Krashen's fundamental language acquisition principle states "we acquire language one way and only one; that is, when we understand the message in a low anxiety environment". This is organic learning.

Most importantly this is the way we all acquired our first language. This is the way the language acquisition device in our brain is wired to acquire language. Other approaches are proven to not yield the expected result.

Shall we explore Organic Learning and see how we can help our students to acquire Tamil better and faster?