In dieser Arbeit werden Gedanken und Überlegungen zu diversen Statements von Lightbown und Spada (2007) im Kontext angestellt und auf die Aussicht des zukünftigen Lehrens in der Primarschule angewendet.
As I have already been teaching English for several years in primary school in the Canton of Solothurn, the statements from Lightbown & Spada (2007) are not surprisingly new to me. The statements are, however, a confirmation of my professional foreign language teaching experience so far.
Therefore, it is somewhat difficult for me to have a prior view and to create a new view of the statements after reading the text.
Consequently, after this seminar I will mainly try to gain new insights for my teaching practice and additionally how to incorporate these in my future lesson planning.
Table of Contents
1. Introductory words- Explanation
2. Statement 1
3. Statement 2
4. Statement 3
5. Statement 4
6. Statement 5
7. Popular ideas about language learning
Objectives and Topics
This assignment aims to reflect upon five common statements regarding language acquisition in the context of primary school education, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical classroom teaching experiences.
- The role of parental correction in grammar and language development.
- The relationship between intelligence levels and success in foreign language learning.
- The efficacy of reading as a primary method for vocabulary acquisition.
- The importance of phonetic accuracy and exposure to diverse native speakers.
- The integration of content and language in academic subjects (CLIL).
Excerpt from the Book
Statement 1: Parents usually correct young children when they make grammatical errors.
As an English teacher, I consistently hear students saying that their parents can support them more in learning English than in learning French. Over time, however, I discovered that many parents speak better French than English. This is particularly evident when analyzing the sentence structure and the correctness of the language. Nevertheless, parents feel less inhibited in the English language, and I have often noticed that they correct their children's spelling.
However, the older the children become, and the more their language level increases, the more the parents` support decreases. This is also due to the fact, that in higher school grades grammar becomes more important and then many parents are unable to cope with it anymore.
Based on the text of Lightbown & Spada (2007) I started to observe my classes and questioned parents. I found out that parents correct their primary school children in 5th & 6th grade especially on the meaning rather than on the form. Hence, I inform the parents at the parents-teacher conference that I work with my students in a constructive approach of learning in which it is important that children actively build up their knowledge themselves by linking to their previous knowledge (Grossenbacher et al., 2012, P. 14-17).
I would like to put more emphasis on this topic in my future lesson planning as well as in students` autonomous tasks.
Summary of Chapters
Introductory words- Explanation: The author introduces their background as a primary school English teacher in Solothurn and sets the context for evaluating educational statements.
Statement 1: This chapter analyzes how parents correct their children's English grammar and spelling compared to their actual language proficiency.
Statement 2: The author evaluates whether high intelligence is a prerequisite for language learning success, noting the shift toward application-based learning.
Statement 3: This section explores reading as a strategy for vocabulary building and illustrates the top-down reading process.
Statement 4: The author reflects on the importance of exposing students to different native speakers to improve listening comprehension and confidence.
Statement 5: This chapter discusses the practicalities and challenges of teaching non-language subjects in English (CLIL) in a primary school setting.
Popular ideas about language learning: This section serves as the concluding synthesis based on the previously discussed pedagogical statements.
Keywords
Language Learning, Primary School, English Teaching, Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Intelligence, Motivation, Pronunciation, Native Speaker, CLIL, Pedagogical Reflection, Classroom Strategy, Language Awareness, Student Autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this assignment?
The assignment focuses on critically reflecting on five specific statements about language learning, comparing established academic theories with personal teaching experiences in a primary school environment.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers parental involvement, the impact of intelligence on language acquisition, reading strategies, pronunciation standards, and the implementation of subject matter instruction in a second language.
What is the main objective of the author?
The main objective is to bridge the gap between academic theory—specifically the work of Lightbown & Spada—and practical teaching practice to improve future lesson planning.
Which teaching approach is emphasized?
The author emphasizes a constructive approach where students actively build knowledge by linking new content to their existing experiences.
How is the theoretical framework structured?
The author utilizes diverse pedagogical sources, including curriculum guidelines like Curriculum 21 and theories on the top-down reading process by Cameron.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Keywords include language learning, primary school, pedagogy, student motivation, and teaching strategies.
Why is parental support often limited in English compared to French?
The author observes that while parents may feel less inhibited in English, their ability to support diminishes as grammar requirements increase in higher grades.
What is the benefit of listening to different native speakers?
It helps students overcome the fear of varying pronunciations and prepares them for authentic language encounters in their professional lives.
How does the author view the integration of academic content and language?
The author acknowledges the benefits of integrating subjects like sports into English lessons but notes that it requires high teacher commitment and appropriate differentiation for all students.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, Reflecting on language learning. A short assignment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/991868
