Students who do not have the opportunities to use the target language outside the classroom, demonstrate much lower levels of language competency. This can be overcome by
Students who do not have the opportunities to use the target language outside the classroom, demonstrate much lower levels of language competency. This can be overcome by Correct Answer engaging them in specific language-focused tasks which are indirectly monitored by their group leaders
Language competency refers to the ability to use and understand a language. Language competence is best developed in the context of learning activities or tasks where the language is used for real purposes, in other words, in practical applications.
- The language-rich environment that is available in the first language is invariably not available in the second language.
- For some learners, the exposure of the target language is limited to the classroom and the language is absent in the speech community of the learner's home or his immediate neighborhood especially peer group.
- In such an environment, opportunities for learning the language are severely limited and occur only in the formal educational setting.
- In these situations, the teacher needs to be especially sensitive to the motivation/needs of the learners for learning the language so that he/she may adopt the materials and organize the learning environment to fulfill the learner's needs.
Important PointsIf the learners do not have the opportunities to use the target language outside the classroom, then they have lower levels of language competency. Following are the steps to overcome it:
- Providing opportunities to the learners to practice the target language in the classroom.
- Encouraging group tasks to enhance learning as learners learn more actively in group tasks.
- The teacher should use a Humanistic approach where he/she will emphasize the importance of creating environments that minimized anxiety, enhanced personal security, and promote genuine interest through a deeper engagement of the learner's whole self.
- Engaging the learners in specific language-focused tasks which are indirectly monitored by their group leaders.
- Respect and encouraging learners and being sensitive to their feelings.
Thus, from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that students who do not have the opportunities to use the target language outside the classroom demonstrate much lower levels of language competency. This can be overcome by engaging them in specific language-focused tasks which are indirectly monitored by their group leaders.
Hint
- Conducting periodical tests will create stress among students. It will rather enhance demotivation among students rather than motivating them to learn.
- Giving them a set of commonly used sentences and vocabulary which they are expected to use will limit their vocabulary knowledge.
- Setting separate easy tasks with more time to complete them will create inactiveness among the students'. Also, all learners are not the same, hence, the task should cater to the needs of the students.