Sent to the China Daily, March 11
Re: "Language is better learned in casual study, scholars say" March 6
Prof.
Van Damme's conclusion that language acquisition takes place in informal
environments and through active communication is correct, but research supports
a deeper generalization, one that gives hope to language education programs:
Language is acquired when we understand what we hear and read, and happens best
when the messages are of great interest to us.
This
idea is supported by studies showing that language classrooms can be very
effective when they are filled with "comprehensible input," as well
as studies showing that reading for pleasure is a powerful means of increasing
first and second language proficiency.
Stephen
Krashen
Professor
Emeritus
University
of Southern California
Rossier
School of Education, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0031
310
924 2490 (USA)
Sources:
Krashen,
S. 2003. Explorations in Language Acquisition and Use: The Taipei Lectures.
Heinemann Publishing Company.
Krashen,
S. 2004. The Power of Reading (second edition). Heinemann and Libraries
Unlimited.
Article:
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2014-03/06/content_17327762.htm
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