TEACHING ENGLISH AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE.   Term Paper ID:20693 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Examines behavioral & humanistic approaches & critiques methods (Silent Way, Suggestopedia, Natural Language, Community Language Learning).... More...

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Paper Abstract: Examines behavioral & humanistic approaches & critiques methods (Silent Way, Suggestopedia, Natural Language, Community Language Learning). Paper Introduction: LEARNING PREMISES OF BASIC APPROACHES AND OF SOME METHODS USED IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE "Language teaching is a field where fads and heroes have come and gone in a manner fairly consistent with the kinds of changes that occur in youth culture" (Celce-Murcia, 1991, p. 3). Yet, to try and understand the processes of language learning and language teaching, learning and acquisition methodologies-however eclectic--need theoretical underpinnings. Today, many linguists--whether concerned with theoretical or applied research--tend to categorize teaching/learning approaches into the behavioral approach and the humanistic approach. Behaviorism (Pavlov-the-Precursor, Watson-the-Originator, Skinner-the-Popularizer, Bloomfield, and others) considers behavior as the product of heredity and environment, and, more Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. (1987). Teaching ESL: Incorporating a Communicative,Student-Centered Component. Richards (Eds.), Methodology in TESOL:A Book of Readings. Pedagogically, audio-lingual methods based on drills and mimicry, onstimuli/responses operant conditioning, met the tenets of Behaviorism.People's behaviors, like those of caged dogs and pigeons, could be createdand modified in vacuo, i.e. 79). There is also the danger of fossilization in frequentusage of a low level interlanguage. operant conditioning--a form of conditioning in which reinforcement is contingent upon the occurrence of the response < generally, behavior modification approaches, such as modeling, operant conditioning, reciprocal inhibition, biofeedback, aversive conditioning of discrete behaviors < usually, no use of the mother-tongue permitted deductive teaching of grammar < sequencing of skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, rather than simultaneous use of all production skills < meaning secondary to paradigm learning < product orientation as opposed to process orientationThe Humanistic Approach The Humanistic Approach came about as a violent reaction to the lackof affective and humane considerations of the Behavioral Approach, againstits materialistic and mechanistic philosophy and methodology. Its emphasisis on spontaneity and the development of the human potential throughexperiential means rather than analysis of the unconscious or behaviormodification" (Goldenson, 1984, p. SWL students assimilate lexicon andgrammar inductively, while developing self-confidence in expression.Contrary to the purely communicative approach, SWL builds linguisticcompetence before attempting communicative competence. Pedagogically,behaviorism stresses two concepts: incremental learning and masterylearning. Richards (Eds.), Methodologyin TESOL: A Book of Readings. This is,in fact, how children learn their first language. 46).Community Language Learning CLL is taught without a syllabus. These extrinsic motivators and data-sources aim at having thelearners discover on their own the new language's structure, lexicon, andpronunciation. The whole process is both experimental and experientialfrom the students' point of view. (1991). A criticism of SWL which is often levelled against it is that SWLdoes not provide ready and practical competency to communicate in "reallife" situations. They are to become self-reliant, creative, and freed fromdependency on the teacher. It is to be noted that a third approach--the cognitive approach--stresses rule acquisition rather than habit formation, individualization ofinstruction, deductive and/or inductive learning of grammar, de-emphasis onpronunciation, stress on reading and writing as well as on listening andspeaking, and tolerance of errors. LanguageAcquisition in the Classroom. The Natural Approach. It has led to a number of audio-lingual methods, inwhich language is seen as a process of habit formation. What had worked with Pavlov's salivating dogs ought to work forconditioned humans. English as a Second Language: From Theory toPractice. Whether the adoption of a newidentity as a behavior modification technique frees students from concernover the self and provides a protective shield is a possibility which oughtat least to be examined. (1976). Humanism places especial value on individualistic, critical, andsecular perspective (in the tradition of the Humanists of the Renaissance). Terrell's The Natural Approach is probably the mostdeveloped method. Yet, authoritarianism tends to work... CLL is a holistic approach which shares many concepts with otherproponents of humanistic education. As amatter of fact, Terrell and Krashen (1983) worked together on the NaturalLanguage Method, and it is therefore not surprising that the NaturalLanguage Method adopts this dichotomous concept. Celce-Murcia (Ed.), Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language.2nd ed. Curran, C. Learners must feel they can"open up", communicate honestly with group members and with the teacher.Negative attitudes towards learning are dissipated through sensing thisclimate of understanding and acceptance. Boston: Heinle & Heinle. 13). The fundamental assumption Terrell makes is that anyoneat any age can discover the system of the language without having to learnit systematically and analytically. Goldenson, M. Moreover, to prepare the unconscious throughrelaxation techniques for agreeable learning is as valid as behaviormodification obtained through hypnosis or sleep-learning. (1976). They sought to teach language as it was spoken, to apply theresults of phonetics to the acquisition of pronunciation, to have studentslearn a foreign language as much as possible as the way they had learnedtheir native language. a process similar to the way children acquire their firstlanguage" (1987, p. The Behavioral Approach is characterized by If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.