Unit 1 Language and Learning

1. Language:” Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication.”

5. The language learning theory underlying an approach or method usually answers two questions:

1) What are the psycholinguistic and cognitive processes involved in language learning?

2) What are the conditions that need to be met in order for these learning processes to be activated?

6.1) Process-oriented theories are concerned with how the mind processes new

information, such as habit formation, induction, making inference, hypothesis testing and generalization.

2) Condition-oriented theories emphasize the nature of the human and physical context in which language learning takes place, such as the number of students, what kind of input learners receive, and the learning atmosphere.

2. Three views of language

Structural view: language as a linguistic system

The functional view: a linguistic system but also as a means for doing things. The interactional view:a communicative tool

3. Four Language Learning Theories

1Behaviorist theory

A stimulus-response theory of psychology

Audio-lingual method

Cognitive theory

Language as an intricate rule-based system

Language competence (knowledge of language system)

Constructivist theory

The learner constructs meaning based on his/her own experiences and what is already known.

Socio-constructivist theory

“Zone of Proximal Development” (ZPD); scaffolding

Emphasizing interaction and engagement with TL in a social context

4. What makes a good language teacher Ethic devotion: warm-hearted, caring, enthusiastic, hardworking, well-prepared

Professional qualities: resourceful, well-informed, professionally-trained, authoritative, disciplined, accurate, creative

Personal styles: patient, attentive, flexible, humorous, dynamic, intuitive

5. How can one become a good language teacher

Wallace’s (1991) ‘reflective model

Stage 1: language development

Stage 2: learning, practice, reflection

Goal: professional competence

Unit 2 Communicative Principles and Activities

1. The ultimate goal of foreign language teaching is to enable the students to use the

foreign language in work or life when necessary.