Learning From Discourse Analysis in the ESOL Classroom

✍ Scribed by Jill Burton

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 52 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1056-7941
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1949-3533.2000.tb00279.x

✦ Synopsis

WHEN STUDENTS LEARN to analyze

discourse for themselves, they become more aware of how language is used. This awareness supports learners' language development and increases teachers' understanding of classroom interaction. In this article, I propose some questions that teachers can use to structure language activities that encourage students to analyze their own use of language. These questions arose from a range of language curriculum and teacher research workshops I conducted recently in Australia and Thailand to assist teachers and learners to explore language function together. 1 Teachers can use these questions to guide their reflections on how to exploit language in ESOL classrooms to promote language teaching and learning.

Questions to Help Structure Language Activities

1. How does discourse function in your classr o o m ?