The Importance of Classroom Discourse in Teaching English

1.      What are the significances of using English in the EFL classes? (to the students as well as to teachers) Justify your answers using the references you can find!

We have known that the purpose/main aim of learning a language is to be able to use it in communication, so in learning language, the language is not the subject that we have to study, but language is a tool to express our feeling and thoughts, we have to use the language as a vehicle in learning that language. If the students want to be able to use English they have to practice using it during the learning process (Willis, 1985). We, as teachers have to be able to make a good environment to learn English in the class, because it will influence the learning a lot, as a one way, the teacher can make a class within an English atmosphere by using English in the class, a study shown that the higher level of English language exposure is shown by the students who can absorb and internalize the language through daily communication within an English-speaking context (Magno, 2009). By using English in the class, the students can improve their ability to express the English language and eventually becomes more proficient. Chiswick & Miller (1998) explained that “leaning by doing” can impact the acquisition of fluency in the target language. As teachers, we should be able to teach the students to communicate in English, by using English in the class, the teachers can exploit and promote genuine communicative situation that arise in the classroom for meaningful language practice, and to allow plenty of time for oral production activities among the students, thus encouraging the students to speak and use their English (Willis, 1985), so they will be able to communicate in English.

References

Chiswick, B. R. & Miller, P. W. 1998. English language proficiency among immigrants in the United States. Research in Labor Economics.

Magno, Carlo. 2009. Assessing the Level of English Language Exposure of Taiwanese College Students in Taiwan and the Philippines. Asian EFL Journal March 2009. http://www.asianiefl-journal.com/March_2009_index.php

Willis, Jane. 1985. Teaching English through English: A Course in Classroom Language and Techniques. London: Longman.

2.      Please explain when, where, how and how often do we, English teachers, use classroom language in our EFL classes? Justify your answers using the references you can find!

Teaching English through English/by using classroom language means speaking and using English in the classroom as often as we possibly can, for example when organizing teaching activities or chatting to our students socially (Willis, 1985). At the early stages it may be difficult for us and them, so a lot of praise and encouragement will be needed and correction of mistakes should be kept to a minimum or our students will lose confidence and give up. The teachers should use English effectively and imaginatively when teaching in the classroom; giving instruction, organizing the class, or even when communicating with the students as individuals, who have a life of their own outside the classroom. The teachers should be able to exploit genuine situations that occur in the classroom, for example when someone is coming late, for meaningful and authentic language practice, so that the students use English for communication and gain confidence in speaking English. So, they will get used to listen and speak in English. Even speaking English is not exclusively done all the time, there are times preferable and more economical as far as time concerned to drop English for a few seconds and use their own language (L1). But of course we have to keep it to a minimum, as far as they still can understand and follow what we’re saying in English, we’d better use English in communication in the classroom. It will be better if we can control them so they will speak in their language when we give permission to do so. Then, we have to make clear when they must stop speaking L1 and return speaking English, but if they speak in L1 without your permission, it means that something’s wrong with the lesson, are they bored, are they not sure of what they’re doing or why they’re doing it, so the activities have to be changed as it’s needed.

Reference

Willis, Jane. 1985. Teaching English through English: A Course in Classroom Language and Techniques. London: Longman.