Language Input and Learning in the Foreign Language Classroom
Dissertation Research Project- Language input and learning in the Foreign Language Classroom
Abstract:
This article examines the differences between native and non-native English speaking teachers, in an Italian Primary school classroom. It uses recordings of four language classes and analyses the teachers’ lexical input, alongside the lexical output of the learners. It examines the types of interaction which take place, and the teachers’ use of the L1 comparing it to the second language acquisition theories of Krashen’s (1981) comprehensible input hypothesis, Long’s (1981) interaction hypothesis, and Swain’s (1985) comprehensible output hypothesis. It was found that the teachers differed in terms of the L2 proficiency, their use of pair and group work as well as their use of the L1. The input that the learners received was found to be comprehensible and incidents of interactional modifications also took place. The study ends with an evaluation of its limitations and highlights potential areas for future research, such as the need for a larger corpus of data reflecting the type of input young learners are exposed to in foreign language classrooms.
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
2.1 Differences between NS and NNS Teachers
2.2 Second Language Acquisition Theories
2. 3 Research Hypothesis
3. Methodology
3.1 Subjects and Data
3.2 Treatment of the Data and Use of the VocabProfile
4. Results
4.1 The Teachers’ Lexical Input
4.2 The Learners’ Lexical Output
4. 3 The Use of Pair and Group Work and Interaction
4.4 The Use of Error Corrections
4. 5 The Teachers’ Use of the L1
5. Discussion
5.1 The Teachers’ Lexical Input
5.2 The Learners’ Lexical Output
5. 3 The Use of Pair and Group Work and Interaction
5.4 The Teachers’ Use of the L1
6. Conclusion and Limitations
7. Bibliography
8. Appendices
8. 1 Transcription Key
8. 2 The Teachers’ Transcripts- a. Transcription of NS Teacher Level 4 b. Transcription of NNS Teacher
Abstract:
This article examines the differences between native and non-native English speaking teachers, in an Italian Primary school classroom. It uses recordings of four language classes and analyses the teachers’ lexical input, alongside the lexical output of the learners. It examines the types of interaction which take place, and the teachers’ use of the L1 comparing it to the second language acquisition theories of Krashen’s (1981) comprehensible input hypothesis, Long’s (1981) interaction hypothesis, and Swain’s (1985) comprehensible output hypothesis. It was found that the teachers differed in terms of the L2 proficiency, their use of pair and group work as well as their use of the L1. The input that the learners received was found to be comprehensible and incidents of interactional modifications also took place. The study ends with an evaluation of its limitations and highlights potential areas for future research, such as the need for a larger corpus of data reflecting the type of input young learners are exposed to in foreign language classrooms.
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
2.1 Differences between NS and NNS Teachers
2.2 Second Language Acquisition Theories
2. 3 Research Hypothesis
3. Methodology
3.1 Subjects and Data
3.2 Treatment of the Data and Use of the VocabProfile
4. Results
4.1 The Teachers’ Lexical Input
4.2 The Learners’ Lexical Output
4. 3 The Use of Pair and Group Work and Interaction
4.4 The Use of Error Corrections
4. 5 The Teachers’ Use of the L1
5. Discussion
5.1 The Teachers’ Lexical Input
5.2 The Learners’ Lexical Output
5. 3 The Use of Pair and Group Work and Interaction
5.4 The Teachers’ Use of the L1
6. Conclusion and Limitations
7. Bibliography
8. Appendices
8. 1 Transcription Key
8. 2 The Teachers’ Transcripts- a. Transcription of NS Teacher Level 4 b. Transcription of NNS Teacher
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