Search found 20 matches

by Scott.Sommers
Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:22 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why all the questions about prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 15
Views: 4314

I agree that there are severe problems encountered using alternative methods, but that's partially because these methods are so poorly understood at a conceptual level. I doubt that even inexperienced and poorly trained foreign teachers would have much trouble teaching basic grammar and correcting s...
by Scott.Sommers
Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:13 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why all the questions about prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 15
Views: 4314

Actually, Fluffy, that was supposed to be my main point, so thank you for bringing us back to it. My concern is that teaching lessons where prescribed language is either the focus of the lesson or one of the key ways in which the lesson is conveyed is so well developed that it’s easy to fall back. W...
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:46 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

My brother has pointed out that there are national security reasons for the concern about prescriptive grammar.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/03/techn ... 3next.html
by Scott.Sommers
Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:00 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Is TEFL parasitic? If so, upon whom, and by whom?
Replies: 46
Views: 22659

Stephen, thank you for the commentary on my site. One of the things that I often forget is that I have posted a large amount of material on the site, and not everyone has the time or will power to wade through all of it. Having said this, I think that I have addressed at some point virtually every p...
by Scott.Sommers
Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:39 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Is TEFL parasitic? If so, upon whom, and by whom?
Replies: 46
Views: 22659

Does anyone know of a case of a school that charges premium prices but grew because it competes on quality rather than price? What exactly does 'quality' in English language teaching mean? I'm not convinced that even highly trained TESOL/TEFL professionals can answer this question consistantly, muc...
by Scott.Sommers
Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:41 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Is TEFL parasitic? If so, upon whom, and by whom?
Replies: 46
Views: 22659

Fluffy, I can agree and disagree at the same time, since I think that we're talking about slightly different things. I doubt that operators would be willing to make the investment in commercial language schools if the profit margin were much less than they are right now, given that there are other p...
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Is TEFL parasitic? If so, upon whom, and by whom?
Replies: 46
Views: 22659

I have written extensively about this and related issues on my blog at http://scottsommers.blogs.com/taiwanweblog/the_efl_professional_project/index.html but in brief… If basic TEFL training was of a higher standard (and lengthier duration) and expense, the salaries would surely reflect this that is...
by Scott.Sommers
Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:06 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

Steven's description of linguistic geography accurately describes only the most recent history. Prior to the invention of modern nations (around 1800), there was no national schooling, there were no national languages, and there was no way for anyone to learn what could be a national language. In fa...
by Scott.Sommers
Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:34 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

Of course second languages are learned naturally. How else could they be learned? Although it is common practice to distinguish between learning under pedagogical facilitation and learning outside the influence of the classroom. For example, many people learn to play particular sports under the tuto...
by Scott.Sommers
Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:13 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

Woody, at least you're honest. But I'm still a bit confused about the prescriptive grammar that you (if you excuse the error of this grammar), "pity those who are not taught it." I say this because, and correct me if you have any solid reasons to believe I'm wrong, you'll find that very few people w...
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:36 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

Just a quick reply. Yes, in fact I was explicitly taught PG and I'm sure you were, too. You must have been if you attended elementary school, since that's one of the main purposes of elementary school in modern nations. I'll write more on this later. I just wanted to post a related link from one of ...
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Feb 11, 2005 2:48 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

No, I haven't seen the book, but I agree that it looks interesting. Woody makes the point that the language standardization I refer to as PG makes possible forms of communication that are difficult without it. I agree completely. I'd even go so far as to say that the development of the modern techno...
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:51 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

Yes, they are only temporary inmates, but their sentence is very long. Thank you, Stephen, for pointing out the error of my ways.
by Scott.Sommers
Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:43 am
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

The vast majority of what gets taught as grammar comes from books that explain the basic tenants. In effect, they are defining the principles. It is from these assumptions about the construction of the 'best grammar' that the discussions that originally attracted my attention are drawn from. Written...
by Scott.Sommers
Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:31 pm
Forum: Applied Linguistics
Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
Replies: 67
Views: 19265

I ask this because I believe there are alternatives. There is a large and growing body of research on conversation analysis. I also work with people who believe that exercises derived from the concepts of learner autonomy offer interesting possibilities. I mention these not as my own prescriptions b...