Intructed SLA

Question 1

What are the six teaching methods of SLA?

Answer 1

1) Structure Based
2) Comprehension Based
3) Interaction/Meaning Based
4) Content Based
5) Teachability Hypothesis
6) Form Focused

Question 2

What is the Comprehension Based teaching method?

Answer 2

• “Just listen… and read.”
• Essentially this method focuses solely on the comprehension side of language learning.
• Extensive reading and listening

Question 3

What is the Interaction/Meaning Based teaching method?

Answer 3

• “Let’s Talk”
• Essentially the learner gains language knowledge by interacting for meaning.
• Negotiation for meaning plays a large role here.

Question 4

What is the Content Based teaching method?

Answer 4

• “Two for One”
• This approach entails that a learner take classes in the target language, the content of which is not language learning.
• This gives the learner a real need to learn and use the language for communication purposes.
• Used often in Immersion and study abroad programs.

Question 5

What is the Teachability Hypothesis teaching method?

Answer 5

• “Teach what is teachable”
• The idea behind the teachability hypothesis is that a learner is only able to learn what comes next (i+1).
• This implies that there needs to be a structuring of language topics so that they can be taught in such a way.

Question 6

What is the Form Focused teaching method?

Answer 6

• “Get it right in the end.”
• This type of teaching method is all about drawing the learner’s attention to something in the language, particularly a difference between the Interlanguage and native-like language.
• They emphasize that some parts of language need to be taught explicitly, and form-focused/corrective feedback is key to doing this.

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Structure Based?

Answer 7

+Useful for Grammar/Vocab
+Some success w/ Highly motivated adults
-No Communication skills = no fluency
-Leads to lower form of Motivation

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Comprehension Based?

Answer 8

+Good for beginners
+Good as supplement for vocab in later learning
-Not sufficient for all skills

Question 9

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Interaction/Meaning Based?

Answer 9

+Seems to be beneficial and motivating.

-Corrective Feedback should be explicit enough

Question 10

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Content Based?

Answer 10

+Motivating; gives a genuine need to communicate
+High exposure time
-Lack of form-focus; leads to lower ultimate success.

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Teachability Hypothesis?

Answer 11

+Great to help teachers understand why some students are struggle

• Only researched in certain areas.
• Is therefore difficult to integrate into a syllabus.

Question 12

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Form-Focused?

Answer 12

+Gives learners rules; helps them to notice errors.
+Makes learning more effective
+Most preferred by Lightbown and Spada.
-Without continued exposure to this, the effects eventually wear off.