LNG 501: Linguistic Descriptions & ELT

By

Saowaluck Tepsuriwong

Linguistic Descriptions & ELT

Prior Discussion 1. What do you expect to learn from the course? 2. What do you know about LD & ELT? 3. What is the relationship between the two areas? 4. Why should we as the MA participants take this course?

Basic Concepts

Focus = Linguistic descriptions & their influences on ELT Learners = Teachers, not linguists Teaching and learning styles = Class discussion, not lecture SS raise questions, search for information, class discussion & summary Evaluation = 2 assignments + class work

Topics

Introduction: Linguistics and Language Teaching Traditional Grammar & Grammar Translation Method Structural Linguistics & Audiolingual Method Transformational Generative Grammar Sociolinguistics & Communicative Language Teaching Notional-functional Syllabus Discourse and Genre

S/2011 LD Schedule
Session / Date 1. Sat 7 April Tentative Topics Linguistics & language teachers 2. Sun 8 April Traditional grammar 3. Sat 28 April Structural linguistic 4. Sun 13 May TG 5. Sun 27 May Sociolinguistics 6. Sat 2 June Notional-functional syllabus 7. Sat 9 June Discourse & genre

Introduction: Linguistics & Language Teaching

Leaning issues

What insights, implications and applications does linguistics contribute to language teaching?

Linguistics

What is linguistics? - Systematic study of language What are the aims of linguistics? - To explain language / to provide language descriptions / theories How do linguists study language? - Using scientific methods

Which word is English?

a) Song b) Ngong

Nature of Language

What do you know about the nature of language? Make a list of the nature of language and give some examples or reasons to support the characteristics that you listed.

Nature of language

Language is a system (of sounds related to meanings = dual structure) Language is productive, creative, arbitrary, recursive Language is a social phenomenon, culturally transmitted.

Prescriptive VS Descriptive views

Language is rulegoverned. You must know the system of the language and use it accurately.

Language is a tool for communication. Its what we think, feel and share with the others. Its what we actually use!

What do linguists study?

Different sounds employed across all human language: Phonetics Patterns of sounds: Phonology Word structures: Morphology How words combine to form grammatical sentences: Syntax

Meanings of words and sentences: Semantics Styles in languages Stylistics How utterances are used in communicative acts: Pragmatics How language is processed in the brain: Neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics How language have changed over time:

Language Teachers

What are the aims of language teaching? - Help students learn language. How do teachers teach language? - Applying knowledge about language / learning / technology etc.

Language teachers
A language teacher should know / have - the language - theories of learning and language learning - psychology
-

teaching techniques world knowledge etc.

Linguistics and language teaching

Insight = understanding Implication = what help us think or are aware of when doing something / use indirectly Application = direct use

Discuss

How can a teacher make use of linguistic knowledge? Work in groups & present your ideas to the class.

Examples

Understand and can explain grammar points, structures, & language use to students Know variety of English Decide what is right / wrong, acceptable / acceptable, normally use / not use

Be aware of what to focus on or to teach Design / analyze materials Test or evaluate language use / usage / skills Understand differences between L1 & L2

No one can be a good language teacher unless he has a knowledge of linguistics?

Linguistics is not even one of the most important elements in the preparation of a language teacher.

The value of linguistics is that by increasing his awareness of language, it makes him a more competent and therefore a better language teacher.