In modern society language in used in 2 ways: directly or orally, and indirectly or in written form. Thus we distinguishoral language and written language. Direct communication implies a speaker and hearer/listener, indirect communication implies a writer and a reader. Hence, the practical aims in teaching a foreign language are 4 (four) in number: listening, speaking, writing and reading.
When adopting the practical aims for a secondary school course the following factors are usually taken into consideration: the economic and political condition of society, the requirements of the state; the general goals of secondary school education; the nature of the subject and the conditions for instruction.
Educational aims:
Learning a second language is of great educational value. Through a new language we can gain an insight into the way in which words express thoughts and so achieve greater clarity and precision in our own communications.
Since languages connected with thinking through foreign language study we can develop the pupil’s intellect. Teaching a foreign language helps the teacher develop the pupils’ voluntary and involuntary memory, his imaginative abilities and will power. Indeed, in learning a new language the pupil should memorize words, idioms, sentence patterns, structures and keep them in long term memory ready to be used whenever he needs them in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Cultural aims:
Learning a foreign language makes the pupil acquainted with the life, customs and traditions of the people whose language he studies through visual material (such as post cards with the views of towns, countryside and people; filmstrips for example, “Great Britain”, “What Tourists Can See in London”, “Disney Land” films) and reading material delaying with the countries where the target language is spoken. F.L.T. should promote pupils’ general educational and cultural growth by increasing their knowledge about foreign countries, and by acquainting them with progressive traditions of the people whose language they study.
