WORKSHEET 1: LANGUAGE, LEARNING AND TEACHING

Question 1

Variables in language acquisition to keep in mind

Answer 1

a. The characteristics of the learner:
b. The linguistic factors
c. The learning process
d. The age of the learner
e. The instructional variables
f. The context
g. The purpose

Question 2

Language is

Answer 2

a. Language is systematic.
b. Language is a set of arbitrary symbols.
c. Those symbols are primarily vocal, but may also be visual.
d. The symbols have conventionalised meanings to which they refer.
e. Language is used for communication.
f. Language operates in a speech community or culture.
g. Language is essentially human.
h. Language is acquired by all people in much the same way, language and
language learning both have universal characteristics.

Question 3

What is Language acquisition as an “interlocking design” or a “jigsaw puzzle”?

Answer 3

We, teachers, need to understand the many aspects of the process of second language acquisition in order to achieve a successful learning experience.

Question 4

What is a teacher as explainer?

Answer 4

The teacher as explainer views SLL as a deductive process, giving rules and paradigms. In this sense, this teacher views their practise as the transmission of knowledge.

Question 5

What is teacher as a facilitator?

Answer 5

The teacher as a facilitator enables the learner to learn, sets conditions for learning and thinks of SLL as an inductive process where students discover the rules and paradigms themselves.