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Building Language Awareness

In this post, let's look at how teachers should focus on building language awareness. The focus in Module 1 was on the importance of contextualizing language. In Module 2, the focus is on the need to be aware of the specific language within that context. That is, the awareness, the attention, and the noticing of the particular features of language that add to learning. This means that it is important to pay attention to language form, for example, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. However, teaching these formal aspects of language through rules, exercises, memorization, and drills does not appear to be entirely effective. Research shows that selectively focusing on aspects of language use within a given context can be even more effective.

Language awareness is the name for this kind of focus. And, because language awareness is a focus on the pragmatic uses of language, the language input must be in context. Two additional requirements of language awareness are that:


  • The context should reflect language that learners are most likely to use.
  • And, language practice in context should be accompanied by conscious effort and reflection on that practice.
Module Focus: Introduction

Some characteristics of language awareness include….
  • The use of meta‐language to talk about language and language forms.
  • Training of learners to become better, more conscious participants in their own learning. They do the work.
  • A balance of inductive and deductive techniques to focus on specific aspects of language.
  • Focus on appropriateness of language used, both situational and cultural.
  • And, the use of comprehensible input, in the form of materials from authentic sources, from the local environment, and from the Internet, for example.
#1 Viewing Points: Classroom Techniques

Video segment #1. Look for examples of:
  • Learners using previous information to understand and make use of new information.
  • Pair and group work for collaborative “discoveries” about language and content.
  • And, information from authentic sources for language practice, with attention to form, content, and pragmatics.
Module Focus: Summary

The focus in Module 02 has been on developing language awareness. We can ask ourselves, “What does it mean to “know” a language feature?” It is not enough to know basic form and a simple meaning for a language item; the successful learner must also understand the multiple meanings and uses of that item in a variety of contexts.

We can also give consideration to the global nature of English and to the reasons why our learners are studying English. Who will our learners be talking to, writing to? What will they be listening to, reading? What English should be taught? We can reflect on ideas and examples from this and other modules in this video, and then apply them to our classes in ways that work best for each of our unique educational settings.

This information is taken from Modules of Shaping the Way We Teach English, module 2.

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