As a Modern Foreign languages ( MFL ) instructor, I have chosen a research which looks into the proportion of mark linguistic communication ( TL ) used by instructors and scholars in MFL categories since this subject is near to my bosom. The probe will concentrate on linguistic communication submergence and the impact that this attack can hold on students ‘ Second Language Acquisition and motive.
Using the research findings, I will try to bring out whether instructors find it hard to use linguistic communications as a instruction tool, and suggest some possible new schemes for easing students larning. Both policy shapers and MFL instructors believe that the TL should be used as the vehicle for learning and acquisition, but in pattern its happening varies greatly from category to category and from teacher to teacher.
Comments and counsel on this subject have been presented, with changing grades of authorization, in a whole scope of contexts: initial instructor preparation, in-service preparation, NC certification, OFSTED studies, publications on MFL learning pattern, etc. The fact remains that despite all this counsel, or even possibly because of it, TL usage remains one of those affairs on which many pedagogues remain unsure.
Commonsense tells us that to larn a foreign linguistic communication one must be exposed to it and that although it is possible to larn a foreign linguistic communication through the medium of the female parent lingua ( as did most modern-day British instructors of Modern Languages ) , such instruction does non by and large fix the scholar for face-to face communicating.
In my instruction experiences it has become platitude that the usage of TL in a lesson tends to be punctured by English ejaculations as a agency to pull off behavior. This point is confirmed by Clark ( 1981:153s ) who says, “ when the instructor resorts to talking the shared native linguistic communication the message that is being given to the students is: usage English when you have something existent to state. Use the foreign linguistic communication when we are making exercisings, question-and-answers work, and other unreal ( non-communicative ) things ” .
This undertaking explores the relevancy that 2nd linguistic communication research has for the secondary foreign linguistic communication schoolroom. It analyses the construct of learning and larning entirely through the TL. The purpose of this survey is to happen out about students ‘ ideas and experiences when it comes to talking Gallic as a Second Language Acquisition ( SLA ) .
I will locate this analysis within the context of a Catholic secondary school situated in London where the catchment country is chiefly deprived. The school in inquiry which we will name School G for anon. intents is a big oversubscribed comprehensive school, which holds a Language College Status. It is a assorted gender constitution which counts for about 650 students between the ages of 11 -16.
School G is presently sing a period of exciting and advanced alterations and has been chosen to go a Pathfinder School, as portion of the BSF ( Building Schools for the Future ) undertaking. The Languages Department comprises 5 members of staff and 3 linguistic communication helpers. The squad was reborn at the beginning of this school twelvemonth, under a new leading and the initiation of new staff. Since so the section has become a innovator in TL submergence.
Over the old ages, our section has acquired a scope of features evident to most perceivers: focal point on the linguistic communication of existent usage, all four accomplishments being developed, grammar in the service of communicating instead than an absolute, modus operandis for pupil interaction, usage of reliable stuffs, activity-based lessons, etc. Much of this is all right. On their ain, nevertheless, there is grounds to propose that that these characteristics are improbable to procure effectual and lasting acquisition by all students ; as an illustration, students may transport out a whole twine of activities in a lesson and still non cognize what precisely their lesson was about in lingual footings or what they were supposed to larn from it. Some students may check the codification of acquisition, but many will non: alternatively they end up with some balls of linguistic communication and subject boxes but by and large unable to re-apply and pull strings the linguistic communication outside these contexts.
I have been learning Gallic in School G for more than four old ages and as I have became more experient in linguistic communication instruction, it would be safe to deduce that frequent usage of the TL in the linguistic communication schoolroom offers value attention deficit disorder to scholars. However most Languages Teachers I have questioned are now gaining that they have to do opinions about its usage all the clip: non merely on whether and when ( non ) to utilize it, but more significantly how.
As a native talker of Gallic it should be comparatively easy for me to utilize the foreign linguistic communication 100 % of the clip. However linguistic communication submergence is something that I frequently find disputing since I have to retrieve to do the linguistic communication simple plenty for my students to understand, particularly when explicating grammar points or mentioning to the board to give written and pictural illustrations whilst talking. In add-on to this, integrating the usage of gestures and visuals plays an built-in function in prosecuting student acquisition. The world is that sole usage of Gallic in category is non ever plenty on its ain to procure quality pupils larning, hence it is non plenty to represent effectual instruction. I became witting that what matters most is what I say and do via the usage of the linguistic communication studied.
A somewhat harder accomplishment to accomplish is for my pupils to utilize the TL 100 % of the clip. Therefore, I considered set abouting some primary research as a get downing point in order to derive cognition about scholars ‘ attitudes towards the foreign linguistic communication, trusting this will enable our section to plan best schoolroom patterns to run into our pupils ‘ demands.
Prior to the execution of the survey some informal departmental meeting took topographic point where a general consensus about the survey was gathered. Positions were aired sing the intent and the likely results of such a survey. Two of my co-workers were acute to co-operate and their tintinnabulation indorsement was backed up by their willingness to take portion in lessons observations.
Ideas that were suggested included utilizing Gallic background music in lessons in order to make a friendly ambiance. Planing more trips abroad to Gallic speech production states will besides be great for students to plunge themselves in the foreign linguistic communication. From this point of position, other characteristics ( some non so obvious ) emerge as much more of import in footings of doing our learning effectual. In fact, our current work is focused on how to do learning more explicit in the MFL course of study, guaranting that larning is accessible to students, while implementing every bit much TL as possible.
During lunchtime I set up an extra-curricular nine which facilitated this learning aim. Pupils created postings with common Gallic looks which helped as utile reminders to the pupils, should they be tempted to sink into English. I felt that if linguistic communication submergence was to be introduced from the really beginning, my pupils may accept this as the norm and harvest the benefits of being immersed in a supportive linguistic communication larning environment. It will be, so to talk, no large trade since students might accept it unselfconsciously, reacting as best they can, and have all the benefits of exposure to the theoretical account of the foreign linguistic communication like an expert used.
In the first twosome of hebdomads of carry oning the survey, we, as a section planned our lessons meticulously guaranting that the course of study was crystalline to and understood by students. All students were observed twice a hebdomad over a period of nine hebdomads, the linguistic communication content was simple every bit good as repetitive and the attack was mostly communicative. The accent was on merriment and enjoyment, in a non-threatening environment where the students were praised for their attempts. Visuals and props played a big portion in enabling the scholars to understand significances, avoiding ‘translation ‘ into English. The linguistic communication was besides embedded around the school in the signifier of multi-lingual marks and shows.
Harmonizing to Stephen Krashen “ Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the mark linguistic communication – natural communicating – in which talkers is concerned non with the signifier of their vocalizations but with the messages they are conveying and understanding ” .
Using the Natural Approach, we spoke merely Gallic and category clip were committed to supplying input for acquisition. Students were encouraged to utilize the linguistic communication being taught and mistakes in address were non corrected ; nevertheless prep included grammar exercisings that were corrected. Goals for the category emphasised the pupils being able usage the linguistic communication “ to speak about thoughts, perform undertakings, and work out jobs. ” This attack aimed to carry through the demands for larning and acquisition, and did a great occupation in making it. Its chief failing was that all schoolroom instruction was to some grade limited in its ability to be interesting and relevant to all pupils.
During lesson observations I remarked that KS3 students were normally able to understand the instructor speech production in the foreign linguistic communication at normal velocity for everyday schoolroom concern and to follow the recorded address of native talkers on familiar subjects. However it was noticeable that their comprehension was less unafraid when they encountered new stuff or unfamiliar contexts.
Furthermore, I noted that after a good start as novices in Year 7, School G students made less advancement in Old ages 8 and 9 in their usage of the TL, so I felt that advancement over KS3 as a whole was dissatisfactory. During unwritten conversations, students could reply simple inquiries on affairs refering personal information or personal involvements, even in Year 7, but they lacked the assurance to take the enterprise in speech production. It was unusual to hear them seeking elucidation, inquiring simple inquiries in the mark linguistic communication such as:
“ Remark dit-on… en francais? ” ( “ How do we state… in Gallic? ” )
Pouvez-vous repeter La inquiry s’il vous braid? ( “ Could you repeat the inquiry please? ” )
“ Qu’est Ce que ca veut dire? ” ( “ What does this mean? ” )
It is besides just to advert that during unwritten conversations, students spoke with acceptable truth in everyday state of affairss. When required to talk at greater length or in new state of affairss, their truth and eloquence deteriorated, partially because their appreciation of construction was normally less secure than their keeping of vocabulary. In KS4, whilst students widen their scope of vocabulary, many were still insecure in their appreciation of tenses, parlance and other points of grammar, for illustration, when required to tell past experiences in countries antecedently covered in the present tense.
The research took topographic point in School G where informations aggregation spanned over a two hebdomads period. The methods used for roll uping information types were qualitative informations and for added dimension, quantitative information was besides used in order to supply speedy, investigative information.
I drafted an anon. Internet-based questionnaire survey on TL that was carried out in December 2009. A sample of 120 pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 responded to the study. For the interviews ten more students were selected from a pool of voluntaries who indicated that they were interested in take parting in this survey. With regard to their foreign linguistic communication experience, most of the participants were native English talkers, but had the chance to larn French, Spanish or Italian since primary school.
The first group of inquiries was open-ended and designed to arouse information about each student. The aim of the study was to determine the scholars ‘ motivational and assurance degree, engagement in a linguistic communication category, their 2nd linguistic communication anxiousness degree in the TL environment, their perceptual experience about the linguistic communication instructor, and eventually the course of study.
The 2nd portion of the questionnaire focused on the pupils perceptual experiences of Effective Foreign Language Teachers. The types of responses students were presented with were a set of multiple-choice options. An illustration one such inquiry was as follows: Make you Strongly Agree* Agree* Disagree* Strongly Disagree that an effectual foreign linguistic communication instructors should be as knowing about the civilization ( s ) of those who speak the linguistic communication as the linguistic communication itself?
Through observations and interviews we were besides able to measure their degree of engagement and enthusiasm about linguistic communication submergence. In add-on, their unwritten proficiency in the SLA was besides monitored for their advancement. The pupils were asked for their sentiments sing assorted facets of their positions on the usage of a Foreign Language. Their remarks and sentiments were so recorded in a notebook.
The findings indicate that most male childs do non like to speak in the foreign linguistic communication because they are capable to peer force per unit areas and fright of negative feedback from instructors ; they suffer from deficiency of assurance and they regard talking as non being existent work, preferring alternatively to prosecute in activities which they see as holding a concrete and practical result, such as authorship.
As Jones ( 2002 ) put it “ talking in the mark linguistic communication is frequently defined, both by pupils and instructors, as the chief aim of larning MFL ” . However this purpose is hindered by the socio-affective factors outlined above, ensuing in most male childs being reticent and unforthcoming when asked to talk in the TL due, largely, to miss of motive and assurance. All of the above socio-affective factors conspire to beef up male childs ‘ reluctance to talk in their ain linguistic communication, ne’er mind a foreign linguistic communication in which, non merely do they hold to state something of effect on the topographic point in forepart of their instructor and fellow pupils, but in add-on they have to articulate all those unusual sounds while guaranting that they get the grammar right.
Recent research has shown that ICT has been used successfully to actuate male childs into speech production by doing the procedure more engaging, offering them a greater grade of independency, and by appealing to every male child ‘s involvement in high-tech. Computers are certainlyA coolA every bit far as male childs are concerned. It has besides been noted by Walker, Davies and Hewer ( 2008 ) that ICT motivates by “ taking the fright of doing mistakes ” .
Since the usage of ICT has been demonstrated to prosecute the scholar and “ to supply students with the liberty that is required to better motive and instil greater assurance ” ( Leach 2002 ) , I set out to find in the survey whether utilizing ICT, could assist my students to better their ability to talk French more frequently in category, every bit good as increasing their willingness to pass on. I began by analyzing the application of a new package plan put in topographic point in our section that was designed to learn a 2nd linguistic communication to immature kids with an accent on unwritten production. The package in inquiry was located in the linguistic communication research lab. It allowed students to enter their coursework so that their words appeared in French on the package. The native storyteller on the package could besides rectify students ‘ pronunciation.
Unfortunately, the plan froze several times in the center of a lesson and the computing machine had to be restarted. As a effect, students had to get down their recordings once more from the beginning. Not holding the right sort of mikes in the beginning took off some of the initial enthusiasm that the pupils had shown for being involved in the survey. However, every bit shortly as the job was solved mikes became the most of import characteristic of the unwritten activities. Furthermore, noise became an issue when pupils were working near to each other as they were working at different degrees. Furthermore, some pupils became less willing to reiterate phrases when older pupils were present in the computing machine lab. They felt more self-aware and discerning.
The consequences indicated that the participants were by and large rather enthusiastic about unwritten activities and had really positive attitudes toward larning foreign linguistic communications in general. They all indicated that larning a foreign linguistic communication is valuable and allows them to better understand others. A few students emphasised that larning a foreign linguistic communication will enable them to procure better occupations in the hereafter. One miss noted: “ the most exciting portion of the survey was when I had the chance to enter my ain voice ” . One of the misss who was of Portuguese beginning, mentioned that her grandma was peculiarly happy that she was now larning Gallic. This doubtless increased her motive to larn this linguistic communication. Some of these kids have unimpeachably learned these attitudes from their parents or other important grownups in their lives.
Based on interviews and comments, it became evident that the participants displayed enthusiasm about larning a foreign linguistic communication. They were eager to larn as they avidly attended some of the Sessionss that took topographic point after school. It must besides be noted that the kids ‘s engagement in this survey was wholly voluntary and they were free to stop their engagement at any clip. Yet, one male pupil who was non enthusiastic about the Language Immersion Program participated in every activity and provided valuable feedback. He felt that a point system should be given to pupils as they finish each lesson.
Furthermore, our participants were rather acute about comparing the truth of their pronunciation with that of the native talker storyteller of the plan. Furthermore, pupils were rather accurate in naming their ain pronunciation of the mark linguistic communication. One miss stated that the plan was “ really entertaining and made me desire to work on it for a long clip ” . The kids indicated that the most exciting portion of the plan was when they had the chance to enter their ain voices.
“ I liked hearing myself on it, I would listen to it and if it did n’t sound anything like it at all, I would make it once more and seek to do it ( the pronunciation ) better. At the terminal of each lesson they give you a trial which I think is good because you can reexamine how you are articulating the words and it ‘s merriment ” was the remark of one of the kids.
Another female participant who was comparatively enthusiastic about larning Gallic stated that she liked the “ sound ” of French and thought that “ Gallic people were nice ” .
The recent rise of engineering in the schoolroom has been a really utile one, now that most students have entree to fast computing machines connected to the cyberspace. I have found that most students learned a batch, peculiarly about grammar, less about significance, from good synergistic exercisings. Hence, Mobile phones, Podcasting and MP3 participants could offer good chances for listening every bit good as speech production. I found it intriguing that through remarks and non verbal behavior the pupils expressed their satisfaction ( or dissatisfaction ) in accurately bring forthing phrases required.
In amount, pupils indicated that utilizing the new Language Lab package was worthwhile and even requested to be involved in future undertakings. The range of this undertaking was simply experimental and was meant to identity assorted facets of the package plan that were peculiarly interesting to pupils. A more elaborate survey must be designed and implemented in order to mensurate the extent to which pupils learn the TL. It is clear that kids should be able to utilize the plan on a regular footing in order to take full advantage of its potency.
I suppose that if the plan is made available to pupils every twenty-four hours, ( perchance at their places ) they would hold ample clip to larn, every bit good as to pattern what they have antecedently learned. This point is particularly of import since “ ample clip for linguistic communication acquisition is an of import factor in successfully geting a 2nd linguistic communication ” ( e.g. , Cook, 1996 ) . Finally, the extent to which grownup supervising is needed to supply counsel and motive is another subject in demand of survey.
I was really pleased with the participants as they held positive attitudes towards computing machines. This is partially due to the fact that they all had computing machines at place and had entree to computing machines at school. Let ‘s non bury the computing machine is no Panacea to larning a new linguistic communication. Language acquisition is a societal activity and I know that my students enjoy interacting with other worlds, including, for the most portion, their instructors.
In fact, when students are measuring their instructors, they appreciate inventive planning and a lively attack, but above all they wish to work and bask the company of their instructor. And this is of class the Southern Cross of the affair: instruction methodological analysiss are really of import. More of import is the personality of the instructor and the manner they are able to command, interact with and actuate their students. There is no 1 manner of making this and it is really hard to learn such elusive accomplishments.
Students besides appreciate being clearly instructed and led in their activities, cognizing that the instructor is clearly in control. To some extent, this sets us apart from other capable countries where more independent acquisition manners are frequently encouraged. We can merely get down to allow pupils free one time they have reached a more advanced degree. Unfortunately we do non hold the clip or money to allow them work at length on personal undertakings since we have to work through a structured programme, carefully selected and graded.
What about grammar? My experience Tells me that pupils like it when grammar is carefully explained in English at some point. Students are low in tolerance for ambiguity and appreciate lucidity. Clarity besides means understanding instructions. I believe it is more matter-of-fact and efficient to explicate the regulations for an activity or game in English, possibly after an account in the foreign linguistic communication. This saves clip and so I do non blow clip later explicating to pupils what they are meant to be making. So I use a small English to accomplish a addition of greater pattern clip, understanding and enjoyment.
I still prefer on the whole to rehearse a point before the phase of account. This means student can deduce regulations for themselves. Even so, on some occasions, for illustration during an afternoon lessons when a category may go restless and necessitate tight control, I am happy to get downing with an old fashioned grammar account in English form board or OHT, followed by unwritten boring and a written exercising. “ Learning grammar ” is, of class, far more about internalising regulations through pattern than cognizing how to explicate the regulation, in itself a non peculiarly of import accomplishment. Grammar is the bosom of everything for the scholar who wishes to do serious advancement and go fluid, but it may be much less of import to the kid who is traveling to halt acquisition after merely three old ages. Possibly the focal point should be more on vocabulary cognition, cultural input and survival linguistic communication for such scholars.
The two illustrations given relate to “ discoursing a grammar point ” and “ comparing English and the mark linguistic communication ” : in other words, specifically lingual affairs. I noted few grounds given by my co-workers sing their deficiency of TL usage: the students wo n’t listen, they would n’t understand, if I try it the behavior deteriorates, they tell me their last instructor ne’er did. It is besides annoying to cognize that students can acquire sensible and sometimes good GCSE grades whether or non they have received consistent TL proviso over the old ages: so where is the advantage? In this context the existent long-run value and impact of hearing the TL used intensively and systematically can easy acquire lost in the apprehensible hunt for short-run “ solutions ” .
Students who are gifted and talented in MFL may hold differing strengths and linguistic communication accomplishments and should hence be expected to do rapid advancement geting colloquial accomplishments, and go high winners. However I realised that the high-achieving group of scholars who ( normally have first-class grammatical apprehension and superb reading comprehension accomplishments ) are non needfully the 1s who grasp new linguistic communication rapidly and re-use it spontaneously in unwritten interaction.
One thing the behaviorists taught us is that repeat, boring and controlled pattern are utile arms in a instructor ‘s armory. So I have found it utile over the old ages, particularly with novices and low-ability students to make frequent group repeat and boring, rapid inquiry and reply and simple unwritten drills ( e.g. I say a masculine word, they give back a positive 1 ) .
I have ever instead liked the imperfect analogy that larning a linguistic communication is like larning a musical instrument so drills are frequently effectual starting motors to lessons when I want to acquire the full attending of the category.
No affair what the underlying motive to analyze a 2nd linguistic communication, what can non be disputed is the fact that motive is an of import variable when analyzing successful 2nd linguistic communication acquisition. Amongst the many factors that influence 2nd linguistic communication acquisition is the attitude of the scholar toward the TL and the people who speak it. Krashen ( 1981 ) affirms that “ it is the attitude of the scholar that is cardinal to the acquisition of a 2nd linguistic communication and is a much better forecaster of success than aptitude ” . He suggests that assurance is a desirable quality in students because it will promote acquisition.
I strongly believe that furthering a positive attitude toward the TL among immature scholars is peculiarly of import. Its presentation must be done in a manner that maintains and/or enhances the motive of the kid to larn that linguistic communication. In other words, the kid must be convinced that the procedure of larning a 2nd linguistic communication is worth the attempt and the energy it requires. This can non be accomplished entirely by the attempts of a few instructors and extremely motivative linguistic communication plans. Parents, pedagogues, concern leaders and other influential leaders must be convinced of the value of early acquisition of a foreign linguistic communication and direct kids to such learning chances.
Based on my experiences and findings, there are some of import issues that need to be mentioned before reasoning. These have to make with the credence, by instructors and pupils, of SLA as primary, and comprehendible input as the agencies of encouraging linguistic communication acquisition. These jobs are caused by the fact that acquisition differs from larning in two major ways: acquisition is slow and elusive, while larning is fast and, for some people evident.
Hence I am convinced that motive is critical in linguistic communication acquisition since it makes linguistic communication scholars positive about their ain acquisition. It besides creates the thrust in them to get the TL, enjoy the acquisition procedure, and experience existent communicating. Furthermore, experience of success and satisfaction has a strong connexion with motive. By gaining their betterment and accomplishment, pupils ever gain the feeling of success.
Peoples in general have acquired 2nd linguistic communications while they were focused on something else, while they were deriving interesting or needed information, or interacting with people they liked to be with. In order for linguistic communication pupils to go satisfied with a lesson, it is required to bring forth a stress-free schoolroom and develop integrated-tasks lesson. It is besides necessary that there is a trust between a instructor and the pupils so that much communicating in a targeted linguistic communication is developed.
In decision, these three factors: assurance, sing success and satisfaction, and good teacher-learner relationships every bit good as relationships between scholars, play an indispensable function in developing linguistic communication scholars ‘ motive.
