Full reference: Pollard, Andee. (2010). English and the Korean Learner: A Question of Wants, Needs and Intelligibility. TESOL Review, 2, 75-96.
Abstract: This paper looks at how the Korean learner of English perceives a selection of English varieties – General American English, Indian English, Irish English, Korean English and Received Pronunciation – as well as how intelligible these same varieties are perceived. It is through understanding the perceptions of our students that Click here to read more.. »
Over the last year or so I have given papers at a number of conferences throughout the region. These conferences have primarily involved discussions within TESOL and Applied Linguistics but have also crossed-over into the related realms of general education, lifelong learning and learning disorders.
There have been some great presentations at the conferences I’ve attended (..and some not-so-great!). Click here to read more.. »
There’s no doubt that the people from the Middle East are very proud people. They are proud of their country, of their history and of their language. Except when speaking English… many of those I speak to wish to lose all traces of the markers that identify them as being from the region. But that’s a story for another time.
Today we talk about Arabic itself. What are the differences between Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and the colloquial or vernacular varieties? Which is intrinsically the best Arabic to learn? Click here to read more.. »
As a follow-up to the Multilingual Children post a while back, this is a question we’ve been pondering lately… How do you develop and maintain literacy in the home language without formal instruction?
The obvious way as we are both teachers is to actively teach our son how to write and give him written tasks as he progresses… but that’s unrealistic. The last thing we want to do is have Leon resenting English when we’re in Korea (where English will be the home language). Sure, he’ll be exposed to English in the education system or should we choose, a private institute… but since his English level is likely to be higher than his peers, that’s also kind of unrealistic. Click here to read more.. »
Something that is currently being debated in several circles is just how an additional language is added to one’s arsenal. There is of course the more traditional idea that we learn a language through dedication, study and hard work. And there is the fanciful idea that we simply acquire a language. Like many things in this world, I think it’s a little bit of both hidden away in that huge grey area. The idea that things are black or white is simply unrealistic in the real world.
The current trend among many learners that blog about their process is leaning toward the natural method and pure language acquisition that is on par with first language acquisition. Simply being exposed to the language and the fruits of the forest will follow. Fluency will leap into your lap like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Click here to read more.. »
