Effective Language Skills: Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening & Pronunciation
Speaking
A1) The Elements of Speaking Production
Connected speech: Effective English speakers need to be able to produce individual phonemes of English.
Expressive devices: This includes the tone of voice, volume, and speed.
Lexis and grammar: The use of common lexical items is important.
Negotiation: Effective speaking benefits from the use of language to seek clarification.
A2) Mental and Social Processing
Language processing: Effective speakers need to process language and put it in a coherent order.
Read MoreHuman Language: Communication, Functions, and Origins
The Language: A Universe of Communicative Acts
Language is the power that people have to communicate. While some animals have developed rational capacity, the human species possesses a unique instrument to materialize it: language. Human beings communicate through language, allowing us to express ideas, feelings, or experiences. Throughout the day, people carry out a multitude of actions involving language (oral, written, verbal, or nonverbal). Every time we carry out an act of communication, information
Read MoreKey Concepts in Second Language Acquisition
Syntactic Pivot
Syntactic pivot refers to the argument of the verb around which the sentence revolves. A pivot language is an artificial or natural language used as an intermediary language for translation.
Silent Period
The silent period is a stage in second language acquisition where learners do not attempt to speak. Silent periods are more common in children than in adult learners, as there is often more pressure on adult learners to speak during the early stages of acquisition. This can be due
Read MoreLanguage as Communication: Oral, Written, and Key Factors
Language as Communication: Oral and Written Forms
This essay explores language, focusing on its role as communication. It is divided into three main sections:
- Definition and properties of language.
- Historical views and characteristics of spoken and written language.
- Communication theory and key factors in interaction.
Language Definition and Properties
Defining language is complex, with some definitions focusing on the general concept and others on specific languages. Trager (1949) defined language as
Read MoreUnderstanding Language Skills: Listening and Speaking
Why Can’t We Separate Language Skills?
We can’t separate language skills for two main reasons:
- One skill can’t be performed without another in most cases. For example, it is impossible to speak in a conversation if you don’t listen as well.
- People use different skills when dealing with the same subject. For instance, someone who listens to a lecture may take notes and then write a report. The same person could also describe the lecture to friends or read an article about the lecturer.
Specifically,
Read MoreVerbal and Non-Verbal Communication in Foreign Language Classrooms
Communication in the Foreign Language Classroom
This essay aims to study verbal and non-verbal communication. For this purpose, I will divide the topic into three main sections. In the first part, I will deal with the concept of communication. Then, I will address the types of communication. In the second part, I will deal with communication in the classroom by developing the concepts of communicative language teaching and non-verbal communication. For illustrative purposes, I will firstly center
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