WHOLE LANGUAGE

Backgr

ound

Language should be taugh as a

WHOLE “if language isn’t kept whole,

it isn’t la

nguage anymore” (Rigg,

1991:522)

Was developed to help young

children learn to read, to teach

secondary levels and ESL.

Respect ss as members of a culture

and as a creator of knowledge, and

respect for teachers as a

professional.

How does it relate to other theories and approaches? Emphasizes the importance of

meaning and meaning making in teaching and learning.

Is designed to help children and adults learn a second language in the same way that children learn their first language.

It is seen as an approach based on the principle that it uses the4 main skills.

Approach: theory of language and of learning. Language is a vehicle for human

communication in which there is a relationship between readers and writers.

Real situatio

ns

Social practice

Authenticity

It is authentic. Personalized Self-directed Collaborative Pluralistic

KNOWLEDGE IS SOCIALY CONSTRUCTED, RATHER THAN RECEIVED OR DISCOVERED.

Teacher collaborates to create knowledge using students’ experience, needs, interests, and aspirations.

DESIGN Principles: The use of authentic material.

Use of real and natural events.

Reading for sake of comprehension

Writing for real audience.

Use of ss’ produced text rather than

course books. Student-centered learning.

Encouragement of risk taking and

acceptance of errors.

Teacher’s role: Facilitator and active participant in

the learning community. Looks for the occurrence of

teachable moments. (no preplanned lesson plan or script)

Negociates a plan of work with the learners.

Student’s role:

Is a collaborator Evaluator His learning experiences are used as

resources for learning. Selectors of learning materials and

activities.(real world materials)

How would you use it?

Features: Literature Process of writing Encouragement of cooperative learning among ss. Concern for ss’ attitude.

Activities: Individual and small group reading and writing. Ungraded dialogue journals Writing portfolios Writing conferences Student-made books Story writing (not based on a topic)

Advantages:

Activities are meaningful. Facilitates the development of all

aspects of a sencond language.

Critics:

Anti-direct teaching Anti-skills Anti-materials.(authentic text are sufficient ot support secondlanguage teaching)

Any questions?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION