Changing Focus: From Second / Foreign Language Teaching to Communication Learning

Title:	Changing Focus: From Second / Foreign Language Teaching to Communication Learning
Author:	Postica, Adina M
Description:	This thesis presents a historical overview of conceptions of language and language teaching and discusses the incompatibility of these conceptions with the reality of human communication. Emphasis is put on the work of Noam Chomsky and his followers, and assumptions on which they based their research are refuted. The thesis discusses the domain confusions on which traditional linguistics relies and reviews Victor H. Yngve’s framework for human linguistics. Based on human linguistics theory, a change in focus is suggested, from language teaching to communication learning; research in neurobiology that supports the proposed change is presented. An experiment (previously reported at TESOL 2006) is described that looks at what constitutes input in real-world communication. The results of the experiment indicate the role of mental imagery in generating input for communication learning; the concept of mental imagery is discussed. New terminology is suggested as well as a number of ways to improve the outcomes of communication learning in classroom settings. Simulation in the classroom is reviewed from the perspective of human linguistics and retained as the most appropriate practical application for communication learning.
Permanent Link:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1147275010 http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/19243
Date:	2006

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