Topic: Semantic structure of the English words content

Audiolingual Method
Audiolingual method is also known as ‘Army Method’ because after the outbreak of World War II, the army soldiers decided to be proficient in the languages of their enemies. So a new learning method of foreign languages was discovered which is known as audiolingual method. This method is based on a linguistic theory and behavioral psychology. The audiolingual method was widely used in the 1950s and 1960s and the emphasis was not on the understanding of the words rather on acquisition of structures and patterns in common everyday dialogues (Richards and Rodgers, 2001).
The teaching of the oral skills with accurate pronunciation, grammar and the ability to respond quickly and accurately is the main objective of audiolingual method. Reading and writing skills may be taught but they are dependent on the oral skills (Richard and Rodgers, 1986).
Total Physical Response
In Total Physical Response (TPR), the teacher gives the students instructions and the students follow the instructions by using whole body responses. James J. Asher, a professor, of psychology at San Jose State University developed the method Total Physical Response in late 1960s to help in learning second languages (Richards and Rodgers, 2001).
1.2 The most common difficulties in teaching grammar.
Different students can have different difficulties and problems in learning English. They can make different mistakes in English pronunciation, grammar, orthography and vocabulary usageEach learner has his own issues but the most common that I felt in my students are the following:-
1. Lack of vocabulary.
2.Grammar .
3.Correct pronunciation.
4.Hesitation in speaking.
If we come to solution it will be easy to discuss it in the same sequence.
1.To improve vocabulary read an English language Newspaper. Reading habit will improve not only your vocabulary but also the sense of making sentences.
2.Gramar is not essential to learn a language but it is very basic to correct your language. Therefore, a Grammar book will be very helpful during the learning process
.3.Listening an English channel will improve pronunciation skills. Some English cartoons are very helpful due to pace of speaking in them. Different characters speak very slow and you can understand every word they speak and it makes easy for you to correct your pronunciation.
4.Speak & speak is the rule to address this issue. Whether you speak wrong or right but don't give up speaking will end shyness which is a big hurdle in learning any language.
Another idea is that the most common cause of the problems faced by a learner of the English language as a second language is existence of the inherent structure of their first language or mother tongue that they are exposed to since the first day. As such the problems that are faced by the students trying to learn the language are-
1. Understanding the grammar structure of the new language.
2. Pronunciations or the inability to understand or comprehend new words
3. Again they think of the reply in their mother tongue first and then form a reply by translating.
4. Vocabulary becomes a huge problem The above mentioned problems are just a few of other problems but in my opinion these are the major ones faced by students. The hardest for a teacher in this case is to actually create a new structure of the English grammar while trying not to dismantle the existing language structure of their mother tongue. The student should be able to use both the languages with ease. Again it is fairly easier in the case of children. Owl cation» A
Challenges Encountered by Learners of English as a Second Language
Learning a second language is never easy. Learning English as a second language is even less easy. Particularly if you are learning English outside of an English-speaking country. For instance, English language learners in African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Zambia, Malawi, and some other African countries face a lot of challenges because English is not the native language of these countries. Just as there are problems faced in learning English as foreign language, so there are challenges in learning English as second language.
These English language learners often face the following challenges.
1. Unqualified Teachers
This is the most significant and the most overlooked problem. What makes this problem so difficult to solve is that, since many communities are English language learners, they cannot determine who is a good English teacher and who isn't. Whatever the teacher says, whether correct or incorrect, will be taken as correct by the learner.
This has led to a lot of confusion among learners because different teachers tell them different things. One of the main causes of this problem is the difficulty teachers have translating from their native languages. For instance, the word ‘cup’ is pronounced by different teachers as either [kap], [kop], or with a vowel sound that does not exist in English. For instance, the sound /Λ/ does not exist in the sound systems of many African languages, so even teachers sometimes have problems pronouncing it.
2. Limited Learning Environments
When I talk about limited learning environments, I'm not referring to the weather, the availability of furniture in the classrooms, or the location of the school. While all of these factors can affect learning, in learning English, what happens outside of class matters most. In most cases, students only make an effort to speak proper English in the classroom when they are under supervision. Moreover, students don’t always hear people around them speaking proper English. As a result, it becomes more difficult to learn correct English.
Learning materials refer to items that aid in the learning process. Books may be a necessary material, but books are not enough by themselves. Audio tools are also needed. As observed above, if a student sees a sound symbol in a book, how does he/she know how to pronounce it? The fact is, students of English Language graduate into teachers of the English language without ever getting to hear the correct pronunciation by a native speaker.
Students also study haphazardly. They have books to read but they can’t tell how certain words are said. How would a student know how to pronounce the word ‘ewe’? He/she must hear the right pronunciation from his/her teacher or from a native speaker of English. Students tend to learn from movies they watch but they often learn the wrong things because movies contain slang and dialects that are not appropriate in many forms of communication.
4. Students Don't Take Their Study SeriouslyIn this case, students often think that the same English they speak at home or on the street is the same they will write in their exams. However, because communication doesn't have to be grammatically correct in order to be intelligible, students don’t always always abide by the rules they learned in school and therefore do not get fully educated and/or pass their tests.
It is also the case that students don’t study English as much as they study other subjects. In most cases, students study English only in the classroom when the teacher is teaching. After the class, they drop their books and wait for the next class. They don’t study pronunciation, they don’t study essay writing, and they don’t make an effort to learn new words. They bring every little problem to the teacher during classes, even things they could just look it up in the dictionary. When learners make mistakes and are corrected, they often say “It is not my language after all.” This greatly affects their ability to learn English.
Other Problems
Even with qualified teachers, adequate materials, and exposure to native English speakers, there are still a number of problems that any ESL student will face.
1. Over-Use of Native Language in the Classroom
Students learn another language best when they're forced to use it. Teachers must be vigilant about requiring students to communicate in English and only in English—even if they're just talking to each other. If you know the students' native language, pretend in the classroom that you don't—as that will force them to make requests and respond to questions in English. This problem comes from the cultural demands of the family and society.
2. Students Become Too Dependent on the Teacher
Part of learning anything means figuring out how to solve problems on your own. If a student goes to the teacher with every little problem s/he runs into, then the student will never be able to learn the language on their own. If students insist that they don't know how to say or do something on their own, they need to be reassured that they actually can with positive feedback and encouragement.
3. Strong Students Dominate the Class
No matter how well students are sorted, there will still be differences in how much students know and how quickly they can learn. Setting the pace of the class to to keep up with the strongest students will leave the weaker ones behind. Weaker students shouldn't be forgotten in classroom discussions and activities.
The Solution
For students who are willing to put in the effort, there are a number of steps they can take to improve their English language skills.
They must be extra careful to be sure to use correct materials recommended by a reliable teacher of English.
They must make a deliberate and conscious effort to learn with or without a class teacher.
The student should get audio materials so he/she can hear the correct pronunciation of sounds and words.Here are 15 common grammar mistakes that can kill your credibility as a writer:
Table of Contents
1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
2. Sentence Fragments
3. Missing Comma After Introductory Element
4. Misusing The Apostrophe With “Its”
5. No Comma In A Compound Sentence
6. Misplaced Or Dangling Modifier
7. Vague Pronoun Reference
8. Wrong Word Usage
9. Run-On Sentence
10. Superfluous Commas
11. Lack Of Parallel Structure
12. Sentence Sprawl
13. Comma Splice
14. Colon Mistakes
15. Split Infinitives
1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
The subject and verb of a sentence must agree with one another in number whether they are singular or plural. If the subject of the sentence is singular, its verb must also be singular; and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
Example 1:
Incorrect: An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me.
Correct: An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me.
Example 2:
Incorrect: The two best things about the party was the food and the music.
Correct: The two best things about the party were the food and the music.