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EFL Teaching (English as a Foreign Language) Flashcards
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This flashcard set covers foundational concepts in EFL teaching, from the traditional grammar-memorization approach to Stephen Krashen's controversial 1970s argument that conscious language study has little value. It examines the distinction between learning and acquiring a language, and why exposure, noticing form, and interaction are now considered the three core factors in language acquisition.
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What is a key characteristic of learning a first language for infants?
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Question
What is a key characteristic of learning a first language for infants?
Answer
Infants learn to speak their first language perfectly.
Question
What was the traditional approach to teaching languages in schools?
Answer
Languages were traditionally taught as subjects where students learned and memorized grammar, vocabulary, and expressions.
Question
What was the main problem with the traditional method of language teaching?
Answer
Despite years of study, most students couldn't actually use the language.
Question
What controversial suggestion did linguist Stephen Krashen make in the 1970s?
Answer
Krashen suggested that most language learning was a waste of time.
Question
What is the difference between 'learning' and 'acquiring' a language according to Krashen?
Answer
Learning is conscious study of grammar and vocabulary, while acquiring is the natural, unconscious process infants use.
Question
What did critics of Krashen argue was missing from just being exposed to a language?
Answer
Critics argued that learners also need to 'notice form,' meaning they need to become consciously aware of grammatical rules.
Question
What essential element was later suggested to be crucial for language acquisition?
Answer
Interaction was suggested as another essential element, as seen in young children acquiring language through communication with caregivers.
Question
What are the three major factors now widely accepted as important for acquiring a language?
Answer
Exposure, noticing form, and interaction are the three major factors.
Question
What practical advice is given to EFL teachers regarding exposure?
Answer
Teachers should encourage students to read, listen to, and watch a wide range of materials in English, and promote reading and listening for enjoyment outside of class.
Frequently Asked Questions About EFL Teaching (English as a Foreign Language) Flashcards
What is the difference between language learning and language acquisition?
Language learning is the conscious study of grammar rules and vocabulary, typically done in a classroom setting. Language acquisition, a term associated with linguist Stephen Krashen, is the natural and unconscious process by which infants pick up their first language through exposure and use. Krashen argued that acquisition, not formal learning, is what allows people to actually use a language fluently.
What is Stephen Krashen's theory of language acquisition?
In the 1970s, Krashen controversially argued that most formal language learning was a waste of time. He proposed that people acquire language naturally and unconsciously, much like children do with their first language, rather than through memorizing grammar and vocabulary. His ideas challenged traditional classroom-based approaches to language teaching.
What are the three major factors for acquiring a language?
The three widely accepted factors are exposure, noticing form, and interaction. Exposure means encountering the language through reading, listening, and watching. Noticing form involves becoming consciously aware of grammatical structures, and interaction refers to actively communicating with others, as children do with caregivers when learning their first language.
What was wrong with the traditional method of language teaching?
The traditional approach focused on having students memorize grammar rules, vocabulary, and set expressions. The main problem was that despite years of study, most students were still unable to actually use the language in real communication. This gap between knowledge and practical ability prompted researchers like Krashen to rethink how languages should be taught.
Why is interaction important in EFL learning?
Interaction was identified as an essential element of language acquisition because it mirrors how young children naturally learn their first language through back-and-forth communication with caregivers. Critics of Krashen's exposure-focused model pointed out that simply being surrounded by a language is not enough on its own. Active interaction gives learners the opportunity to use language in meaningful, real-time contexts.
What practical strategies should EFL teachers use to increase student exposure to English?
EFL teachers are advised to encourage students to read, listen to, and watch a wide variety of materials in English. Promoting reading and listening for enjoyment outside of class is particularly recommended, as it builds natural exposure beyond formal lessons. This approach aligns with the acquisition model, which treats extensive, meaningful contact with the language as a core part of developing fluency.
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