Unit 1 Language and Language Learning Aims of the unit In this unit we will discuss some general matters about language learning and teaching. We are going to discuss five questions on particular: 1. How do we learn language? 2. What are the common views on language? 3. What are the common views on language learning? 4. What are the qualities of a good language teacher? 5. How can one become a good language teacher? 1.1 How do w e learn languages? Mach of human behavior is influenced by their experiences. The way language teachers teach in the classroom is to some extent influenced by the way they learned languages. This is especially true in foreign language teaching. Before we discuss language learning theories, let us first reflect on our own language learning experience. Task 1 Below is a list of interview questions on how people learn a foreign language. In the first column, write down your own responses. Then interview three other students in your class and enter their responses in the other columns. Discuss your findings in group of 4 and draw some conclusion. You ST1 ST2 ST3 1. How many foreign languages can you speak so far? 2. When did you start learning the foreign language(s)? 3. How do you feel about learning a foreign language? 4. What difficulties have you experienced in learning? 5. Which skill do you find more difficult to learn? 6. Have you focused on knowledge or skills? Why? 7. Why do you learn the foreign language(s)? 8. Do you consider yourself a successful learner? Why? 9. What are your most common learning activities? 10. Do you like the way you learned the foreign language(s)? From the above task, you may have found that 1) people started learning a...
