The document discusses key aspects of language learning and teaching, emphasizing that language acquisition involves listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It outlines principles for effective language teaching, including prioritizing sounds, using imitation, and focusing on controlled vocabulary and graded patterns. The document also stresses the importance of contextual learning and the role of the mother tongue in the language acquisition process.

1. LANGUAGE ARTS
TEACHING

2. Learning a second or a foreign language is more than
learning a description of it.
It is developing the ability to use the language on habit
level.
Fundamentally, all language learning involves the
processes of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

3. What is Language?
• Language is a complex and dynamic system of
communication used by humans to express
thoughts, emotions, ideas, and information. It
consists of sounds, symbols, and rules that are
used to convey meaning between individuals.
Language can be spoken, written, or signed, and it
serves as a fundamental tool for human interaction
and social connection.

4. Key Aspects of Language
Phonology: The study of the sounds used in a language. Phonology
deals with the way sounds function within a particular language or
languages, including the rules for their combination and
pronunciation.
Morphology: The study of the structure and formation of words.
Morphology examines how words are formed from smaller units of
meaning called morphemes, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root
words.
Syntax: The set of rules that govern the structure of sentences.
Syntax involves the arrangement of words and phrases to create
meaningful sentences, determining how different parts of speech
interact.

5. Key Aspects of Language
Semantics: The study of meaning in language. Semantics
focuses on the meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and
texts, and how these meanings are understood and interpreted.
Pragmatics: The study of how language is used in context.
Pragmatics examines how language is used in different social
situations, considering factors like tone, intention, and the
relationship between speakers.
Lexicon: The vocabulary of a language. The lexicon includes all
the words and expressions in a language, along with their
meanings, usages, and grammatical properties.

6. Key Aspects of Language
Language as a Cultural Tool: Language is deeply
connected to culture, serving as a means to transmit
traditions, beliefs, and values. It reflects the social and
cultural norms of a community and helps shape identity.
Language Evolution and Diversity: Language is not static;
it evolves over time, influenced by social, political, and
technological changes. There are thousands of languages
spoken worldwide, each with unique structures, sounds, and
vocabularies.

7. Key Aspects of Language
Language Acquisition: The process by which humans learn
language. This can occur naturally in childhood as a first
language (L1) or later in life as a second or additional
language (L2). Language acquisition involves cognitive,
social, and environmental factors.
Language and Thought: Language influences how we think
and perceive the world. The relationship between language
and thought is a key area of study in linguistics, psychology,
and philosophy, often explored through concepts like the
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

8. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
IN LANGUAGE ARTS
TEACHING

9. Principle No. 1
 Give Priority to Sounds:
• The sounds of English should receive priority.
Sounds should be given their due place in the
scheme of teaching. Teacher should be very
careful that correct and standards pronunciation is
given from the smallest unit of sounds.

10. Principle No. 2
 Present language is Basic Sentence
Patterns:
• Present, and have the student’s memories, basic
sentence patterns used in day-to-day conversation.
From small utterances the students can easily pass on
the longer sentences. Every language follows certain
basic patterns, especially on the syntactic level of
language instruction.

11. Principle No. 3
 Language Patterns as Habits:
• Real language ability is at the habit level. It does not
just mean knowing about the language. Make
language patterns as habit through intensive pattern
practice in variety of situations. Repetition is one
principle in language learning.

12. Principle No. 4
 Imitation:
• Imitation is an important principle of language learning.
No learner by himself ever invented language. Good
speech is the result of imitating good models. The
model should be intelligible. To a language teacher,
using poetry in teaching is a common practice.

13. Principle No. 5
 Controlled Vocabulary:
• Vocabulary should be kept under control. Vocabulary
should be taught and practiced only in the context of
real situations. This way, meaning will be clarified and
reinforced.

14. Principle No. 6
 Graded Patterns:
• “To teach a language is to impart a new system of complex
habits, and habits are acquired slowly.” (R.Lado, 2013) So,
language patterns should be taught gradually, in cumulative
graded steps. This means the teacher should go on adding
each new element or pattern to previous ones. New patterns
of language should be introduced and practiced with
vocabulary that students already know.

15. Principle No. 7
 Selection and Gradation:
SELECTION
• Selection of the language material to be taught is the first requisite of
good teaching. Selection should be done in respect of grammatical items
and vocabulary and structures. Selection of language items should
involve frequency (how often a certain item or word is used) range (in
what different contexts a word or an item can be used) coverage (how
many different meanings a word or an item can convey) availability (how
far an item is convenient to teach) learnability (how far an item is easy to
learn) teach ability (how far an item is easy to teach - in the social
context).

16. Principle No. 7
 Selection and Gradation:
GRADATION
• Gradation of the language material means placing the language items
in an order. Grading involves grouping and sequence.
• Grouping concerns (i) the system of language, and (ii) its structures.
(i) Phonetic Grouping – grouping according to sounds.
(ii) Lexical Grouping – grouping according to lexical situations.
(iii) Grammatical Grouping – grouping according to similar patterns.
(iv) Semantic Grouping – grouping according to meaning.
(v) Structure Grouping - grouping in the structures means how the selected items
fit one into the other-the sounds into the words, the words into phrases, the
phrases into the clauses and sentences, and the sentences into the context.

17. Principle No. 8
 The Oral Way:
• Experts believe that the oral way is the surest way to language
learning. Prof. Kittson rightly observes, “Learning to speak a
language is always the shortest road to learning to read and
write it.” Prof Palmer also writes, “We should refrain from
reading and writing any given material until we have learned to
use its spoken form.”

18. Principle No. 9
 Priorities of Language Skills:
• Listening (with understanding), speaking, reading and writing
are the four fundamental skills. Listening and speaking are
primary skills, while reading and writing are secondary skills.
Reading and writing are reinforcement skills. They reinforce
what has been learnt through understanding and speaking. In
fact, understanding and speaking speed up the reading
process. Writing should be introduced after reading.

19. Principle No. 10
 Multiple Line of Approach:
• "The term multiple line implies that one is to proceed
simultaneously from many different points towards the one and
the same end. We should reject nothing except the useless
material and should be selected judiciously and without
prejudice all that is likely to help in our work". In teaching a
language, it implies attacking the problem from all fronts.

20. Principle No. 11
 Language Habit through Language
Using:
• A language is best learnt through use in different contexts and
situations. Prof. Eugene A. Nida rightly observes, "Language
learning means plunging headlong into a series of completely
different experiences. It means exposing oneself to situations
where the use of language is required."

21. Principle No. 12
 The ‘Spiral’ Approach:
• The ‘spiral’ approach language should be followed.
Previously taught vocabulary and structures should be
reintroduced in subsequent unit whether logical or
possible.

22. Principle No. 13
 Use Mother Tongue Sparingly:
• The mother tongue should be sparingly and judiciously
used during teaching English. Of course, at the early stage
some explanation will have to be given in the pupil’s
mother tongue. Student mustn't use their mother tongue in
the classroom.

23. Principle No. 14
• The mother tongue is learned easily because there is a
natural environment for learning it from the very beginning,
the child listens to his parents, and he rises and sleeps
with the same language.

24. Principle No. 15
• The principle emphasizes acquiring skills by doing. Two
learners of the same group and age may differ a lot
because of their practice, so students should be motivated
for self-indulgence.