Six Popular Beliefs on Language Learning with the Different Theories and Principles on Second Language Learning (Published)
This article defines what language is and how significant it is. It exhibits how language is learned throughout life. It elaborates that there are six beliefs related to language learning. The first belief that the study mentions is that language learning is learned by imitation. The article will exhibit the definitions of imitation case and how it is different from practice. It also shows vivid examples of what is meant by imitation and what is meant by practice. Moreover, the article also shows that learning a language could be done through daily routine and it provides clear examples about this matter. The second belief exhibits that younger learners are better learners than adults. The third belief is the appropriate pronunciation of the sounds to speak. Furthermore, the fourth belief the author explains students learn what they are taught. The fifth belief focuses on learners that they should be corrected as soon as they make errors. Finally, the sixth belief is that students can learn both languages and academic content simultaneously. The article elaborates on the sixth belief in detail explaining each one of them individually. It also sheds light on different theories of second language learning which are universal grammar theory, sociocultural theory, and the monitor model theory. The monitor model theory has five different hypotheses which are the acquisition versus learning hypothesis, The monitor hypothesis, the Natural order hypothesis, the Comprehensible input hypothesis, and The Affective Filter Hypothesis. In addition, the author also speaks about Ellis learning principles which are 12 principles but the Author focuses on only seven of them.
Keywords: Beliefs, Language Learning, Language Teaching, Pronunciation, imitation
An Evaluation of the Communicative Approach to Language Acquisition and Language Education (Published)
This article evaluates the communicative approach adopted in the teaching of language in Nigerian Secondary Schools. This study analyses the communicative language teaching approach in line with the language difficulty situation of the Nigerian students. The Stephen Krashen theory on language learning was adopted for the study. A critical review of literature, interviews and classroom observation reveal that unless conscious and deliberate steps are taken to arrest the current traditional method of teaching language in Nigeria by teachers and language policy makers the success of this approach will remain a mirage. The study suggests that teachers of the English language need to be more proactive and less non-challant in their use of the communicative approach. They also need to implement appropriate communicative activities consciously to meet the learning styles and needs of their students in the Nigerian context.
Keywords: Communicative Approach, Language Learning, Language Teaching
Teaching Cameroon Languages and Cultures via a Computer-Assisted Language Learning (Call)–Based Perspective for Learner Autonomy: Insights from Cultural Historical Activity Theory (Published)
With the trend of technological evolution, language teaching methodologies have evolved to fully accommodate ICTs as integral mediation tools in language teaching/learning. This paper bridges the gap between existing studies, by placing particular emphasis on learner autonomy and learning environments especially as regards the poor appropriation of our local languages and cultures within the school milieu. Thus, we propose and show that in a context of learning local languages by secondary school students in Cameroon, an adapted approach wherein the language teaching/learning methodology is implemented with a learner management system which takes into consideration localization aspects and the beneficiary population, learner autonomy can be attained when viewed through the prism of cultural historical activity theory.
Keywords: Activity theory, Language Teaching, Learner Autonomy, Localization, National languages and cultures