Reading log 6

The Three Dimensions

The three dimensions of language Meaning, Form and Use, are different from the linguistic approaches that understand language in a hierarchical way. But both are necessary, and complimentary, I believe. It all depends on what educational setting one is in, and what the goals of instruction are. For instance, people who are studying language to become language instructors crucially need of both approaches. However, most language learners approach institutions to learn how to communicate effectively in a broad variety of contexts.

         Taking that into account, the systemic nature of the MFU approach would surely benefit more language learners, especially because so many teaching materials and approaches lean on integrated-skills approach that call for speakers, listeners, readers and writers that can convey meaning appropriately and grasp meaning from different kinds of texts.

         What this reading showed me was that one needs to be more rigorous when preparing lessons, and one needs to analyze each piece of language we are about to teach with beady eyes. That way, we instructors are really prepared to help students when they encounter the subtleties of language. And they will find plenty of them in their life in English!