EGE 14 - Teaching English in the Elementary

Grades (Language Arts)

General Principles in
Language Arts Teaching
Mark Jayson M. Mariñas
Instructor
Learning Outcome
1. Identify teaching principles in
language Arts teaching and explain
how these principles are used in
teaching
What is Language?
Language, a system of conventional
spoken, manual (signed), or written
symbols by means of which human beings,
as members of a social group and
participants in its culture, express
themselves. The functions of language
include communication, the expression of
identity, play, imaginative expression, and
emotional release.
Nature of Language
1. Language is learned.
2. Language is related to the culture of
society.
3. Language is species-specific;
4. Language is species uniformed;
5. Language is a system;
6. Language is for communication;
7. Governed by a particular set of rules
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

1. The student is the language learner.

The radical paradox was echoed in
Gattegno (1972), he observed that in
teaching we are nurturing in learner’s
inner criteria that enable them to
advance in their learning. "Only self-
education," he said, "will lead any
learner to the mastery of a skill."
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

2. Language learning and teaching are

shaped by student needs and objectives in
particular circumstances. Student needs
and objectives are not just personal. They
are shaped to a considerable degree by
societal pressures, political exigencies, and
parental expectations influenced by these
two.
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

3. Language learning and teaching are

based on normal uses of language.
To learn a language naturally, one needs
much practice in using the language for the
normal purposes language serves in
everyday life. Language practice should
already be as close to real communication
as practicable.
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

4. Classroom relations reflect mutual

liking and respect, allowing for both
teacher personality and student
personality in a non-threatening
atmosphere of cooperative learning
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

5. Basic to use of language are language

knowledge and language control. All languages
are organized at several levels. Language
control necessarily implies the ability to
understand messages and their full implications
in the context, social and cultural, interpreting
tone of voice, stress, intonation, and kinesics, as
well as actual words and structures.
Principles of Language Teaching
Principle of Interactive Language Teaching

6. Development of language control proceeds

through creativity, which is nurtured by
interactive, participatory activities. The use of
language is creative, not imitative.
General Principles of Teaching English
Give priority to sounds. The sounds of English should
receive priority. Sounds should be given their due place in
the scheme of teaching.

Present Language in Basic Sentence Patterns. Present,

and have the students’ memories, basic sentence patterns
used in day to day conversation.
General Principles of Teaching English
Language Patterns as Habits. Real language ability is at
the habit level. It does not just mean knowing about the
language.

. Imitation. Good speech is the result of imitating good

models. The model should be intelligible.
General Principles of Teaching English
Language Patterns as Habits. Real language ability is at
the habit level. It does not just mean knowing about the
language.

.Controlled Vocabulary. Vocabulary should be taught and

practiced only in the context of real situations. This way,
meaning will be clarified and reinforced
General Principles of Teaching English
Graded Patterns. “To teach a language is to impart a new
system of complex habits, and habits are acquired slowly.”
(R.Lado, 2013)

Selection and Gradation. Selection of the language

material to be taught is the first requisite of good
teaching. Gradation of the language material means
placing the language items in an order. Grading involves
grouping and sequence.
General Principles of Teaching English
Phonetic grouping, i.e.grouping according to sounds. For
example, words having the same sound are placed in the
one group as, cat, bat, mat, pat, fat, sat; it, bit, fit, hit, kit, it
etc.

Lexical grouping, i.e., grouping according to lexical

situations. Example: school, teacher, headmaster, peon,
class-room, library. All these words are grouped around
“school.”
General Principles of Teaching English
Grammatical grouping, i.e., grouping according to similar
patterns as, my book/ his book, (pattern grouping): in the
room, in the corner/ in the class/in the garden, etc.
(phrase grouping)

Semantic grouping, i.e.,grouping according to meaning.

Example: school, college, university; bicycle, rickshaw, car,
train, airplane, etc.
General Principles of Teaching English
Graded Patterns. “To teach a language is to impart a new
system of complex habits, and habits are acquired slowly.”
(R.Lado, 2013)

Selection and Gradation. Selection of the language

material to be taught is the first requisite of good
teaching. Gradation of the language material means
placing the language items in an order. Grading involves
grouping and sequence.
Psycholigical Principles of Teaching
English
Motivation. “Motivation is an important factor in
language learning particularly in learning a
second language. It creates an interest as well
as the need to learn the language at hand.
Psycholigical Principles of Teaching
English
Immediate Correction. Do make corrections.
Corrections make all the difference. They help in
improving pupils’ responses.

Frequent Review. Frequent review and re-entry

of the same material is necessaryfor retention.
During the process of reviewing, variations in
material should be essentially be introduced
and practiced.
Psycholigical Principles of Teaching
English
Correct Responses. classroom activities should
strengthen the language skills. The techniques
used by the teacher of English should
encourage the maximum rate of correct
responses. This will give children the feeling of
success, achievement and assured progress.
Psycholigical Principles of Teaching
English
Reinforcement. The student should be told his
response is correct immediately after it is given.

Practice in Everyday Situations. A language is

best learnt when its need is felt in everyday
situations.
EGE 14 - Teaching English in the Elementary
Grades (Language Arts)

Questions? Clarifications?

Mark Jayson M. Mariñas

Instructor