Understanding the Language background of the students: Home language vs School Language; First or second language Learners and the language used in teaching the subject - issues and Challenges.

1. Understanding the Language
background of the students
Suresh Babu G
Assistant Professor

2. Understanding the Language
background of the students.
• Learners’ language background is one of the
factors which may influence the amount and
functions of own-language use in English
instruction
• The more you learn about where your
students come from, the easier your job will
become. This includes learning more about their
language, culture, values, family, and home
environment. This knowledge will help you to
better support your students in the classroom and
to receive more support from home

3. • The "language background" is the
native language spoken by the respondent.
• It is the home language.
Understanding the Language background of the students.

4. Home Language
• A home language is a language (or the variety of
a language) that is most commonly spoken by
the members of a family for every day
interactions at home.
• Also called family language or the language of
the home.
• Home language is the language to which
children are exposed in their homes and
communities.

5. • It is the language that they use as their primary
means of communication, and identifies them
with their community.
Home language is the language(s) a person speaks
the best and is often the basis of sociolinguistic
identity. They may (or may not be) be the language of
the majority.
Home Language

6. Importance of maintaining the
home language
• For communicate and express themselves,
freely and increasingly complex way.
• Develop and maintain a positive, cultural identity
in which children know that their home language
is valued and important.
• Transfer linguistic strengths, general skills and
knowledge
• Confident communication and positive identity
development.

7. School Language
• School language is the language used in
textbooks, in classrooms, and on tests.
• It is different in structure and vocabulary from
the everyday spoken language of social
interactions.
• Codified from grammar and dictionaries.
• School language is standard language.

8. Difference Between Home
language and School language
Home language
 language that is most
commonly spoken by the
members of a family for
every day interactions at
home.
 Have sociolinguistic identity
 Not standard
 Low prestige
 Used in limited area
 Conversational in nature
School language
 It is the language used in
textbooks, in classrooms,
and on tests.
 Codified from grammar
and dictionaries.
 Highly standard
 High prestige
 Used in many area
 Academic in nature

10. First Language (L1) and Second
Language(L2)
• First language, native language or mother
tongue (L1 ) is a language that a person has
been exposed to from birth or within the critical
period.
• First Language is the term refers to the
language a person learns from birth.
• Second language (L2) or a foreign language that
being studied.

13. Elements contribute to good
Teacher Language
• Speed : Adjusting the speed of the
teacher to match the level of students
understanding. Breaking up the teacher
talk into smaller manageable “Chunks”.
• Vocabulary : Using simple vocabulary ,
using vocabulary that generally known
to the students
• Language structure : Using simpler
structure, using short sentence.
Teacher language is the school language

14. • Content : Including familiar topics
to arouse students interest,
including requests for repetition,
clarification or explanation from
students, including much
encouragement for students to
interact.
• Repeating and rephrasing :
Repeating and rephrasing the
sentences to help students
understand.
• Flexibility : Using the language
flexibly in different situations.
Elements contribute to good Teacher Language

15. Issues and Challenges
• Related to learning students backgrounds and to
find culturally relevant resources to teach
content.
• Related to look for recourses that go beyond the
textbook.
• Difficulties in clearing grammar and vocabulary.
• Cultural shock.

16. • Mother tongue interference
• Inadequate supply of instructional materials
method used by
the teachers to teach the language
• Balancing diverse learning needs based on
cultural aspects
Issues and Challenges