Language, Learning, and Teaching

M. Saifuddin117835056

The definition of language

“Language is a system of arbitrary conventionalized vocal, written, or gestural symbols that enable members of a given community to communicate intelligibly with one another”.

Language

The possible definitions of language:

Language is systematicLanguage is a set of arbitrary symbolsThose symbols are primarily vocal, but may also be

visualThe symbols have conventionalized meaning to which

they referLanguage is used for communicationLanguage operates in a speech community or cultureLanguage is essentially human, although possibly not

limited to humansLanguage is acquired by all people in much the same

way; language and language learning both have universal characteristics.

Language acquisition

Language learning

The way human develops language

The definition of learning“acquiring or getting knowledge of a subject or a skill by study, experience, or instruction”

The definition of teaching“guiding and facilitating learning, enabling the learner to learn, setting the condition for learning”

Learning and Teaching

The success of learners learn language depends on:

a. teachers’ understandingb. how language is learntc. the principles of learners learn language

Teaching language

Approach“a set of correlation assumptions dealing with the nature of language teaching and learning. An approach is axiomatic. It describes the nature of the subject matter to be taught.”

Example Structuralism / Behaviorism Rationalism and Cognitive Psychology Constructivism

Approach, method, and technique

Method“an overall plan for the orderly presentation of language material, no part of which contradicts, and all of which is based upon the selected approach. An approach is axiomatic, a method is procedural.”

Example Audio-Lingual Method Grammar Translation Method

Technique“is implementational that which actually takes place in a classroom. It is a particular trick, stratagem, or contrivance used to accomplish an immediate objective. Technique must be consistent with method, and therefore in harmony with an approach as well.”

Example TPR (Total Physical Response) Jigsaw

If a child said “I want milk”. The structuralism would analyze the form of utterance, finding it to be composed of a subject (I), a main verb (want), and the object (milk).

Behaviorists assume that throughout development, children train to perform verbal behavior usually after parent has provided example: “Say bye – bye, Bye – bye.” In this way, the adult provides the child with mature speech exemplars, and training in imitation

Structuralism/Behaviorism

Rationalism

The generative linguist was interested not only in describing language but also in arriving at an explanatory level of adequacy in the study of language, that is, a “principles basis, independent of any particular language, for the selection of the descriptively adequate grammar of each language.

Rationalism and cognitive psychology

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychologist like generative linguists, sought to discover underlying motivations and deeper structures of human behavior by using a rational approach.

argue that all human beings construct their own version of reality, and therefore, multiple contrasting ways of knowing and describing are equally legitimate.

Constructivism