Studying a Second Language

[english grammar man]

Path to Communicating Effectively

The goal of most students studying a second language in an academic situation is to acquire the ability to communicate effectively in that language.

Many English teachers define effective communication as near perfection in structure and phonology, and thus doom the student to ultimate failure.

Students should be given the chance to acquire language as well as to use it in daily situations.

Recommended learning guidelines:

1. Students should be permitted to use both their native language and the language being studied in the initial stages of learning to comprehend.
2. Students' speech errors should not be corrected
3. Class time should be devoted entirely to communication experiences, relegating learning activities to outside the classroom.

A reappraisal of the goals of foreign language teachers to bring them in line with students' and native speaker' expectations is long overdue.

Most adults can learn to communicate effectively in a second language if they are given the opportunity to do so.