Analysis of Course Materials - Literature review Example

nаlysis of Соursе Mаtеriаls Student’s Name Institution Supervisors Name Date Background Language is an essential tool for sharing feeling, experiences and knowledge. As a second language, learning a different language can be a difficult task that depends on the characteristics of the person who is learning the language. However, the benefits that come with learning the second language will come with raising various opportunities for the person’s life. This essay looks at the book by Ferris and Hedgock’s, Teaching ESL composition and Teachers of English to speak other language by Rod Ellis. According to Martin Bygate, in second learning language, it has been observed that most of the times in a classroom setting where students are able to progress in learning a different language while it might be a bit tasking for other student especially those who are slow in learning. It is an open agreement among scholars of linguistics that learners will always strive to use everything that they have to learn a second language. For example, culture will play one of the most important aspects in learning languages, the students educational background is also very important in learning semantics and ways of pronouncing the language that they would be learning. Learning new languages also calls for the student to train in getting new phonetics, new forms of grammar and a lot of new words which are used in mending up the communication breakdown when speaking. It is important in this way, that a learner of a new language to know how to say things in a very appropriate way. This way should also be differentiated from the usual ways of speaking so as to identify different language functions. For example, one should be able to know when you arguing, disagreeing or complaining about something. In the same way, a person who is learning a new language say English, should be able to receive understandable messages in order to make the learner understand the required input. In order to learn well, it is important to understand the difference between receiving, responding, Organisation, value and self-characteristics under one value system. This is because these different inputs provide a better impact throughout the learning process meaning that personal behavior will always have a great impact in learning the second language. According to Ellis, some primary factors in learners and their family and environment that they are in when learning the second language will also affect the way they grasp it. This is also supported by Ferris & Hedgock, (1998)’ in such a social constructionist view, the audience or discourse community will largely determine knowledge, language and the nature of discourse, both spoken and written. Discussion: Grammar and Learning English as a second Language Grammar plays a very big role in learning a second language, be it French, Japanese or English. This is because every speaker learning a second language needs to know the right grammar and the grammatical system of the English language. This because when learning English as a second language, Grammar is a very important component in learning a second language and it will at all times govern the way that the sentence is structured and formed so that the speaker will be able to produce and comprehend proper communication. According to Bygate, (2002) ‘In speaking we have to construct a discourse plan that represents a number of general intentions, our overall topic and intended outcome, the way that we would like the intention to proceed, our relationship with our interlocutor(s), our personality and our relationship with the world.’ In being more specific, an ESL learner will only gain from the second language if one is able to study grammar. This is because when one is able to study grammar, it can help the second language learner, be it from any part of the world, or culture, be able to develop more relevant knowledge of the language including the language structure and its features. This will also be able to make the come up with a better understanding of the differences and relationships that exist between the English text and the context by which the English language is written. Looking at the above discussion, it is openly important that the learner of the second language should be able to understand grammar. Importance of Grammar In this section we shall look at grammar and functional grammar. A functional grammar is the type of grammar in the spoken and written language that shall focus on the purpose of and the use of the language. Functional grammar is usually developed through studying written and spoken language in accordance to the different contexts that they are used. In addition, when we look at functional grammar, the language is always looked at as being the source for making a relevant meaning or in other words describing actions which will provide a choice where learners are able to make meaning. In functional grammar, various issues will be looked at as there are three metafunctions that are found in functional grammar which describe how people usually use language. The first of these functions is the ideational metafunctions, in this one, the learner will use language in order to encode personal experiences of the environment which they live in and be able to convey a picture in relation to reality or rather real events. The other metafunctions is the interpersonal one, with this one, it shall make the use of language so as to encode different interactions and also be able to show ways in which defensible or binding we can find personal propositions or proposals. Lastly there is the textual metafunctions that will make use of language in order organize personal experiences, interpersonal meaning in to a coherent, logical views, however is the language is written or spoken. To add on the above, the three metafunctions of grammar, need to work together in a concurrent manner and applied in all forms and texts. Looking from the above characteristics of grammar, it can be said that functional grammar will always apply a recurrent approach from the most important to the least important part of the written or spoken English. This will enable the learner or the audience be able to analyze the sentence and get the overall idea of the sentence. This means that grammar is very useful and is recognized by Ferris & Hedgock, (1998) who agree that teaching grammar is a highly useful tool for helping learners to be able to produce spoken or the written English correctly. The use of functional grammar in ESL learning can actually guide the learners to choose the right type of expression and also be able to express themselves when they try to convey a message in the new language. However it should not be forgotten that grammar in ESL learnring is a very useful tool which goes far beyong the traditional ways of learning English, this is because it will be able to link each word that is shared with a matching word in order to break the sentence to more descrete words. Conclusion In conclusion, by looking at the importance and the nature of learning ESL language, grammar is considered to be one of the most important aspect for the learners. In addition, when a teacher is taking a student through the language sessions, one should be able to take their needs and preferences in to account. This is because one of the most important aspects of ESL learning is to be able to teach them to speak a language that is generally understood. In other words, they should be able to communicate in the second language in a ways that is universally acceptable. At some point it may be difficult for the teacher or the learner to tell the type of grammar that is very important in ESL learning. This is because the traditional way of teaching grammar and the most functional ways of learning grammar will also depend on the needs and preference of the learner in question and the situation or context by which this is taught. If such factor is considered then learning of English as a second learning will be able to accommodate any learner from all walks of life. This is because, the use of proper grammar will enable one to understand what the learner is trying to communicate, serving one of the basic uses of language, which is communication. Bibliography Bygate, M. (2002). Speaking. In M. Bygate, Oxford Handbook of Applied Linguistics (p. 3). Oxford University Press. Ferris, D., & Hedgock, J. (1998). Theoritical and Practical issues in ESL learning. In F. &Hedgock, Theoritical and Practical issues in ESL learning (p. 5). 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