English Education

This posting is about the eight elements of language . it is the fifth elements of language, language is linked to cognition . It is a continuation of the fourth, language is intertwined with culture . For more information, read the rest of article! Some theorists believe that cognitive development supports language development. Some believe the reverse is true—that language development drives learning and provides humans the ability to organize their thinking. Certainly, there is an undeniable link between the two. Let’s look at two examples. Consider a young child who makes the conceptual discovery of in and links it to the word. Suddenly he/she begins to correctly use this cognitive and linguistic discovery incessantly—“ in the box,” “in the shoe,” “in the bed,” “in the doggie,” and so on. Children delight in making these discoveries. The joy is evident in the constant use they make of their exciting new finds. Conversely, here is an example illust...

This posting is a continuation of my previous posting about the eight elements of language . One of the element of language is “it is intertwined with culture”. Discussing the link between language and culture with university students and inviting them to share personal experiences calls forward many amusing stories of what can happen when there is a is connect between the two. Knowing a language does not necessarily mean that one can navigate one’s way in the culture of that language. For example, perhaps your American students have slumber parties or sleepovers. In the United States, this is a common way for children to “hang out” at a friend’s house and have fun into the evening and often beyond. For people of other cultures, this may be a bizarre and uncomfortable concept—allowing one’s children to sleep in the home of another person. So not only does the phrase “slumber party” require an explanation, it also requires becoming familiar with a co...

The flow of language can be compared to music. Imagine listening to a beautiful piece of music, or listening to someone speak who “has a way with words.” We don’t usually think about the underlying structure that makes up this pleasing “whole.” However, it is precisely because the various elements of the structure are placed together in just the right way that creates their appeal. Two elements that comprise musical structure include rhythm and the particular key in which the melody is written. Let’s take a look at the structure of language. phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics These five structures of language—phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics—are universal. How they interact and the importance and prominence of particular elements are language-specific. This information is so useful for a teacher. Your English learners bring a vast amount of knowledge about language structure in their first language to the process of learning English. The...