Search found 20 matches
- 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...
- 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...
- 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
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/03/techn ... 3next.html
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:51 pm
- Forum: Applied Linguistics
- Topic: Why do we teach prescriptive grammar?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 19265
- 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...
- 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...