Answer to Question #304207 in English for Accordance

Question

 In South Africa English as a subject is taught at two levels namely: English as a Home Language (EHL) level and English as a First Additional Language (EFAL). When English is taught at a home language level, learners are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the language that is similar to that of home language speakers of English, yet the majority of learners, especially those from township and rural schools lack this knowledge. However, this does not suggest any mental or emotional deficit as research has found that these learners bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences from their homes.

As an English teacher, how would you draw on their wealth of knowledge and experiences to support their learning of English in an effective and engaging manner? In a paragraph of not more than eight sentences, discuss THREE strategies you would use. Make sure that your ideas are presented in a logical, clear language with appropriate cohesive devices that produce a coherent text.

Answer 1

1. Grammar-translation method- teaching students about the language but not how to use it practically. The method equips the leaner with the necessary grammatical rules for correct application in real life.
2. The Audio-lingual method- Based on the fact that learning is habit formation through conditioning. This equips the learners with the effective tools for learning vocabulary.
3. The task-based method- This approach uses language-based tasks rather than the language itself. In so doing, the teacher has the opportunity to explain the errors made and why they are wrong.