20 Classroom Instructions and Second Language Acquisition II

Dr. Devasree Chakravarti

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Content

  • Learning outcomes
  • Introduction
  • Classroom Instructions
  • Principles of Classroom Instruction
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Factors affecting Second Language Acquisition
  • Role of teachers in Second Language Acquisition
  • Role of mother tongue in Classroom instructions & Second Language Acquisition
  • Proposed Solution for Classroom instructions and Second  Language Acquisition

Learning outcomes

 

By the end the module students will able to understand:

  • Definition of Classroom instruction and Second Language Acquisition
  • Challenges faced by teacher in Second Language Acquisition
  • How Mother Tongue influenced Classroom instructions& Second Language Acquisition
  • Implementation of Second Language Acquisition

 Introduction

 

Language is a system for communication. We use language to express our thoughts. It has also always been an important medium of instruction. In a classroom, a teacher instructs students to learn a new language. There are mixed ability students who come from different socio- economic environment so a teacher need to know the class room management to improve their learning ability. An effective teaching cannot take place in a poorly managed class. Classroom management and classroom instruction are related to each other. As Pollack says, Classroom management is, “one that runs smoothly, with minimal disturbance in the learning environment of a group of individuals within a classroom setting. Classroom management and instruction are not separate, but are interwoven and complex. The interwoven nature of classroom management and classroom instruction is especially easy to see from pupil’s perspective’’. A teacher can make the learning and teaching process easier by improving classroom instruction through learners’ centered classroom management.

 

Teacher should focus their attention on the classroom management for an organized classroom to understand the concepts and interactions.

Research shows that instruction can have a significant effect on second language acquisition, at least in terms of the rate of learning and long term success. Learners seem to be able to benefit more from instruction. Actually Acquisition is not a sudden process but it develops step by step. One advantage of classroom instruction is that learner gets immediate feedback so he is compel to produce output because his mind is fully occupied and attention is focused.

Classroom instructions 

 

The classroom environment plays a significant role is shaping a student’s future. A positive and encouraging atmosphere enhance their learning process. Many students face a lot of problem in their learning process because they do not receive proper instructions in their class. It is the duty of teacher to make teaching consistently effective by giving proper classroom instructions.

 

Classroom instruction is a term used for teaching process which takes place in a classroom. It can be used at any level of teaching whether in primary class, in a university or students of second language class. It bridges the gap between teachers and students and helps them understand the process of learning. It is one of the major activities of the teaching process. Weil and Calhoun (2003) describe “four categories of models of teaching/instruction (behavioral systems, information processing, personal development, and social interaction) that summarize the vast majority of instructional methods.”

 

A proper class room instruction prepares students for the future. It teaches them to learn without feeling pressured. According to Bala, classroom is “a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place and it can be found in educational institutions” and instruction is a meaningful direction of learning process with proper planning and management in a classroom.

 

Characteristics of effective classroom Instructions 

 

The most important characteristics of classroom instruction is to understand essential concepts and skills to indentify the individual’s need and instruct them according to their level for the desired outcome. Use of variety of teaching methods in the classroom is also an important part of instruction.

 

Teachers must be skilled in order to fulfill the instructional need of all students. A teacher should clearly defined teaching objectives with instructional strategies.

 

Teachers should provide them information about their progress and help. To improve their skill, teachers must be in touch with current research related to core, intensive instruction, and latest technology.

 

For effective instruction, classroom should be student centered. Both the teacher and student take part in learning process. Teachers can help students learn to think about their own capabilities.

 Principles of Classroom instruction 

 

“If you learn only methods, you’ll be tied to you methods, but if you learn principles you can devise you own methods”

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Teachers make learning a thinking centered process with powerful representation. They pay attention to developmental factors and provide the instructional support. Principles of classroom instruction always support teacher to guide their students. All teachers plan, manage, deliver and evaluate their instruction. In a class all students are not same so the goals and objectives of instructions are also different for every individual. Here planning is an important part of instruction. It is the process of making decisions about what lesson to teach, how to teach and how to communicate realistic expectation to learners Practice is the most important component of instruction. A good teacher always starts lesson with few minutes’ review of previous topic.

 

Introduction of new material in the class is also a good example of effective instruction but it should not too much at once as it may confuse students. Asking lots of questions can also be an important factor of instruction because it helps students to connect themselves with study. Questions help a teacher to decide how well the lesson has been learned. Whether they requirement more instruction or not.

 

Providing models, charts and other learning tools can also help learners to solve problems faster. It is not enough to give students new materials. In order to store these materials in their long term memory, practice is very important. The students must be prepared for the self practice. Teachers should give sufficient instruction so that the students can solve the problems independently without any difficulties.

 

It is true that practice makes perfect but it should be without error. So it also a principle of an effective instruction to watch students errors and also warn them about possible errors they are likely to make. It increases their success rate.

 

Independent practices, systematic feedback, re-teach materials are also important part of an effective instruction. Independent practice should be the guided practice.

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) 

 

Learning any second language is not an easy process. Second language Acquisition (SLA) is the process by which students learn a language different from their native language. For example a child who speaks Hindi at home because it is his mother tongue learns English in school by the process of SLA. Learning and acquisition are different. According to Krashen’s “analysis of the process of mastering a second language, he reserves “acquisition” for the subconscious process of learning a language by being exposed to it. He says, “learning” is the conscious process of mastering a language by studying it”. Ellis (1997, p.3) defines the second language acquisition as “the way in which people learn a language other than their mother tongue, inside or outside of a classroom”.

 

According to Ortega, 2009, “Second language Acquisition is the scholarly field of inquiry that investigates the human capacity to learn language other than the first during late childhood, adolescence or adulthood, and once the first language or languages have been acquired.”

Brief History

 

SLA began in the late 1960s, is a relatively young field. In the first half of the last century, SLA was not a separate field. In the 1970s, SLA comes in to existential. It was influenced by Noam Chomsky’s developing theory of grammatical competence.

 

During 1980, there was a rapid development in SLA. Stephen Krashen’s monitor theory revolves around the idea that language acquisition is driven solely by comprehensible input.

 

Since 1990 there have been developments of several theories of SLA. Later various researches were focused on the area of SLA and Approaches of SLA. Towel and Hawkins (1994) described different approaches to SLA. It can be divided in to three categories linguistic approaches, sociolinguistic approaches and psychological or cognitive approaches.

Methods to teach a second language

 

Traditional Method: It includes translations from first language to the second language.

Direct Method:    In this process all teaching must be in second language with emphasis on conversation.

Submersion Method: In this method learner is surrounded by speakers of target language in social setting.

Immersion Method: In this use of first language is strictly restricted. Student taught through L2.

Audio-lingual method: In this method emphasis on speaking and listening is given than reading and writing.

Theories of Second Language Acquisition

 

Monitor theory

Behaviorism

Cognitive psychology

Connectionism

Multidimensional Model

Inter actionist perspectives

Krashen(1981) formulates five key hypothesis about second language acquisition:

  1. The acquisition-learning distinction
  2. The natural order hypothesis
  3. The monitor hypothesis
  4. The input hypothesis
  5. The affective filter hypothesis

Facts about Second Language Acquisition

 

For learners, there is much less time for SLA than they had for first language acquisition so it is influenced by conscious motivational factors. It is developed by stages and systematically so the learners have variable intuitions about the second language grammatical knowledge of second language is incomplete in comparison to native language.

 

Children learn their native language very easily because it is the part of their general development so the chances of failure of learning is nothing but in case of second language as the process is intentional it depends on the different factors.

Factors affecting Second Language Acquisition

 

There are some factors that influence the success rate of SLA. Some students learn second language more easily that other. The factors can be divided in to two parts.

 

Internal factors: It is related to Individuals’ personal quality.

 

External  factors:  Factors  that  characterize  the second language  learning situation. Internal factors

 

Age- Age is an important factor is SLA. Usually adults learn faster than children but in case of second language it is popular belief that children learn it with ease. Montaigne writes, “In my infancy. I learn to speak as pure Latin as my master without art, book grammar…. whipping or a single tear”. Children have some benefits in learning a second language as they have an awesome ability for reproducing the pronunciations. They show naturalness than adults and feel no nervousness. This favours natural learning. They have time to become capable in second language.

 

Aptitude- Aptitude is a specific quality for language. It is correlated to language learning. Every individual does not have an aptitude for second language learning. Some learns have outstanding aptitude.

 

Personality- Individuals’ personality also depends on language learning. Introvert learners make slow progress particularly in oral skills. They do not take advantage of learning process because of their own nature but extrovert learners take benefits from all opportunity. They take risk and gain success.

 

Motivation- Motivation is very importance to learn second language. If learners have interest and desire to learn a second language they themselves make effort to learn. As Ellis concludes (1994:515):

 

It is likely that the relationship between motivation and achievement is an interactive one. A high level of motivation does stimulate learning… conversely, a vicious circle of low motivation = low achievement = lower motivation can develop.

There are two types of motivation:

 

Intrinsic– It is related to students’ perception of self. Students who enjoy language learning can better learner. It encourages students self esteem by giving attention to his capacities for second language learning.

 

Extrinsic- It is related to external factor. Some external motivation factors are finding a good job, travelling around the world, communication with people of world, opportunity for better education.

 

Cognitive Styles- The way in which learners process and perceive their learning is called cognitive style. Students with greater cognitive abilities can make faster progress.

 

Native Language- If second language is related to learner first language it is easy for him to learn fast. For example A Dutch child can learn faster than a Japanese or Chinese child because Dutch is related to English.

External Factors

 

Learning and teaching context- For second language learner it is important to teach them according to their need. Language learning becomes difficult if students are not fully involved into the mainstream course without any extra aids. If a student gets appropriate and effective instructions in the class his progress will be faster. The instructional method should be correlated to learners’ preferred approach to learning.

 

Culture and Status- It is observed that if student’s culture and status is lower than that of the second language culture his learning capability becomes slow. They should be encouraged to learn by their parents and teacher.

Role of teachers in Second Language Acquisition

 

Teachers also have an influence on students’ outcomes in second language class. Some teachers used progressive teaching while some traditional beliefs and teaching style. There are some teachers who combine the progressive and traditional practices for teaching. Teachers’ attitude and personality may have effect on the students’ academic performance. For SLA a teacher must be efficient in second language. Teacher should:

  • Active, energetic in the classroom
  • Use new technology and innovations
  • Helpful as well as hopeful
  • Determined to improve teaching and learning manners
  • Show an interest in the students, treats them well and be friendly with them
  • Patient, kind, responsible and flexible in the classroom.

Challenges faced by teachers in SLA

Second language Acquisition is a complicated process which takes time. One of the most common problems of teachers is that they have very limited time with their students. There are two kinds of language proficiency Conversational English is the language we use the language we use to communicate is daily life and Academic English is the proficiency which student need to learn for an appropriate grade level i.e. how to read, write and learn. It is also difficult for a teacher to find out how long the process of learning this proficiency will take for an individual student when it comes to a class of mixed students.

For a leaner whose language and culture are same that of the school, is a challenge to learn new language within a limited time period but those who culture and language are different the task is very difficult.

Teachers working with students of second language learning have to face learners from diverse culture and social background. Teaching students in a mixed ability class is a kind of challenge in itself.

It is also a challenge for teachers to design the course material according to need of individuals and time as these are also important factors affect the process of teaching and learning.

Relationship between culture and language cannot be ignored. A teacher always search ways to opt for the teaching which can make easier the acquisition of English for those, who are native of other country and whose language is different.

Teaching in a multilingual class is a challenge for teachers because during the discussions all students are not able to interact due to their different native language. It’s a problem for teacher how to explain them according to their need.

Role of mother tongue in class room instructions and second language acquisition

The language used in the classroom for instruction affects student’s ability to learn. Using mother tongue as a medium for instruction enhances students’ learning ability. Mother tongue based instructions have a positive attitude and perception. If in a classroom mother tongue based instruction is given, it promotes student involvement during classroom learning. It directly connects with improvement and achievement of the student. When a learner is given instruction in their mother tongue, his listening, reading, writing skills are increased.

Benefits of mother tongue based education

If learners cannot understand the language used in the classroom, they are unable to respond. Those who understand the classroom language, develop interest in learning. Their ability to learn, write and think has great influence.

For overall development in individual’s personality, it is important to understand the medium of instruction. If they understand the language of instruction, they learn faster because they already have good knowledge of vocabulary, linguistic construction and pronunciation of the language. Being able to understand the language, they performed significantly better than those who have instructions in other than mother tongue. There is plentiful evidence that mother tongue based instruction makes easier their learning ability. It promotes general cognitive development that is needed for second language acquisition.

If learner is given instructions in their mother tongue, his home culture and traditional knowledge are increased. They gain a better self concept. They know their own identity and achieve better in all field of his life. It is a kind of strength which supports their learning ability.

Factors must be consider in implementing mother tongue based instructions for SLA

Translation is very advantageous in learning through mother-tongue. Sometimes translation is considered as the fifth language skill after listening, speaking, reading and writing. It promotes communication and understanding between two unknown people. So for better understanding of the lesson, teachers need to translate the lesson in mother tongue. It is effective because most of the class is participating during discussions in the class.

Translation is also important in multilingual class because teacher translate the study matter in different language according to the need of the students. A teacher should be versatile. This strategy is effective because the learners are seen motivated. Milabiling (2011) says that “ those speak more than one language are also generally more aware of sociolinguistic variables and functions than those who speak one language and they are adept at switching between different regional varieties, registers and formal and informal language styles.”

When mother tongue is used as a medium of instruction, all instructional material should be prepare in mother tongue according to the needs of learner. It promotes students interest in learning.

Problems faced by teachers in implementing mother tongue based instruction

There are some problems which a language teacher faced in mother tongue based second language acquisition.

Improvisation is an important factor in teaching material. There are not sufficient books written in mother tongue. Malone (2007) says that “literacy can only be maintained if there is an adequate supply of reading materials”.

No wide range of words and phrases available in mother tongue so it is also considered as a problem. Teachers feel difficulties in teaching because they cannot tell the write word exactly equivalent of the source language.

Lack of proper training of teachers is also a problem because they don’t know how to tackle with students with different language. For an effective second language teaching teacher should be trained and teaching materials need to be appropriate, accessible and interesting.

Proposed solutions for classroom instruction and SLA

To benefit the most from second language, it is important to encourage students to involve in the process of learning. For example by using stories, dramatizing them, playing songs, conversations and posters with the most repeated phrases and words as it has been mentioned that the second language acquisition is influenced by some internal and external factors. To gain maximum benefits of SLA, there are some solutions for success.

  • SLA depends on input and exposure to the target language so maximum input must be applied in language process. It can be in form of physical response or media that is audio and video. It should be interactive and full of variety. Sometimes teachers unconsciously repeat the same pattern which results boredom.
  • Task based language teaching encourages students involvements. They must be given opportunities to use second language for interaction. Small groups activities and other co-operative learning promotes communication skill of the students.
  • Teacher should encourage students to share their feelings and experiences through writing in second language. They share experience with each other which promote students knowledge of first language to share with other in second language.
  • A teacher should not be afraid to experiment different interactive activities in class with different level of language proficiency
  • Promoting listening and reading practice by life like conversation is also an important technique for teaching second language. This gives opportunity to teachers to evaluation of learners. They can correct their mistakes and provide a non-threatening opportunity for students to become more proficient in second language.
  • First language supports second language. It is useful medium for learning of second language. As Butzkamm (2007) says, “The mother tongue is therefore the greatest asset people bring to the task of foreign language learning and provides an indispensable Language Acquisition Support System”.
  • A language teacher should use effective ways to represent the various types of knowledge, understanding of their students, explore the conception and misconception and help students to overcome these difficulties.
  • Traditional ways of teaching second language focused more on reading and writing than on speaking. In the era of E-learning, learning takes place through conversation. Learning through technology is the best way to learn and teach. There is no cultural and geographical boundaries as student can connect to each other any time.
  • Speech recognition software is also one of the major advantages of latest technology. It gives feedback. It can be used to improve pronunciation.
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Reference

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