Key Theories and Practices in Early Language Learning
Key Theories in Second Language Acquisition
Burstall: Carried out a pilot study in England, comparing two groups of students with five years of language instruction. One group began learning French at age 8, while the second started at age 11 (secondary school). Results showed that later starters were consistently superior.
Muñoz: Compared three different starting ages (8, 11, and 14). After a similar number of instruction hours, students who started older performed better in nearly all linguistic
Read MoreFour Cs Framework & CLIL Pyramid: Enhancing Content and Language Integrated Learning
The 4Cs Framework in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
Content
Successful learning involves acquiring knowledge, skills, and understanding through thematic or content-based learning. The subject or project theme forms the core of the learning process.
Communication
Language plays a crucial role in communication and learning. The principle of “learning language to use language, and using language to learn” applies here. Communication extends beyond grammar and involves using language in
Read MoreEffective English Teaching Strategies for Young Learners
Fairy Tales
Fairy tales are a kind of folktale or fable. In these stories, we meet witches and queens, giants and elves, princes, dragons, talking animals, ogres, princesses, and sometimes even fairies.
Marvelous and magical things happen to characters in fairy tales: a boy may become a bird, a princess may sleep for a hundred years, a seal may become a girl. Objects, too, can be enchanted—mirrors talk, pumpkins become carriages, and a lamp may be home to a genie.
Elements of Fairy Tales
Fairy tales
Read MoreForeign Language Learning: Key Concepts and Strategies
Key Factors in Foreign Language Learning
Age as a Factor
Age is not always a critical factor in foreign language learning. Very young learners (VYL) have a good aptitude for learning, but less comprehension development. Adults develop abstract thought, but their different points of view could lead to complaints about teaching methods, and they may fear failure. Teenagers can be challenging due to their energy levels and potential negativity towards the language, especially if they feel treated like
Bilingualism and CLIL in Education: Key Concepts
Additive vs. Subtractive Bilingualism
In additive bilingualism, the first language continues to be developed, and the first culture continues to be valued while the second language is added. On the contrary, in subtractive bilingualism, the second language is added at the expense of the first language and culture, which diminish as a consequence.
Fostering Additive Bilingualism in Education
We, as teachers, should do all we can to demonstrate to all students that their cultures and languages are equally
Read MoreIntegrating Content and Language: CLIL in Education
What is CLIL and How Does it Differ from Traditional Language Teaching?
CLIL stands for Content and Language Integrated Learning. It integrates teaching a second language and the subject’s content simultaneously. In contrast, in traditional language teaching, the lesson is developed in the first language (L1), and the teaching focuses only on the content, not on the language.
What are the 4Cs of the CLIL Framework and How Do They Interrelate in a Lesson?
The 4Cs are Content, Communication, Cognition,
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