Learning and Acquisition of English as a

Foreign Language.

Mg. Roxana Correa Prez.








Students: Albornoz, M. Timothy.
Irarrzabal, B. Nicol.
Section: ED1110C-1






March, 16
th
, Concepcin 2014

Summary.

Teaching an L2, in terms of speaking, has several problems and situations to be solved by
the teacher at the moment of encouraging students to use an L2 in class. Consequently, the
systematic way to solve these problems rises as a solid helper for EFL teachers.

To begin with, the teacher should be aware of the proficiency of the student in the L2, for
the previous preparation of easy tasks regarding the level of the speaker. In addition, the
tasks should be prepared in order to introduce the students into English real life
communicative situations; as a result, students will get expertise doing these tasks by
constantly repeating them. Moreover, the teacher should be a motivator for the students to
participate and use the L2 during the class, thus the tasks become easier to be performed by
them. For example, it would be a good method to assign a leader or guide student to take
advantage of the mentioned situations.

Firstly, students should be informed by the teacher about the tasks content, so they can
reach a certain objective regarding the type of learning activity to be developed. Secondly,
use the benefits of behaviorism; for example, penalty and reward system such as putting
money in the pot at the moment of talking in an unnecessary way the L1. Thirdly,
negotiation can be an excellent method to improve the L2, catching the students interest on
the topics that they want to address for the objectivity and practicality of the tasks.
Additionally, less is more. The L1 can be used to explain each other in a group the right
indications of a task, to elaborate a plan, to have a better knowledge of the information. The
L2 may have less usage in these circumstances; however, at the moment of exposing a
presentation about a topic or to do an L2 task they will have a better command, because this
could be a way to bring about the changes of the incorporation of the L2 in classroom
activities.
















References.

Nation, P. (1997). L1 and L2 Use in the Classroom: A systematic approach. TESL
REPORTER, 30(2), 19-27.