NC Quest Voices of North Carolina Andrews’ Language Exploration and Awareness Approach – Day 1 Carl Young NC State University Summer Workshop I: June 18 – 22, 2007

The Language Elephant… more to teaching language than grammar  Semantics –meaning patterns  Syntax – sentence patterns  Discourse – modes, types  Dialects – regional, social, etc.  Phonology – sound patterns  Morphology – word structures Typically focus on grammar—form and structure—over meaning.

Three Prerequisites for the LEA Approach:  Language study should focus on genuine and authentic uses of language;  Language success is assessed by the application of multiple criteria of effectiveness;  There should be more opportunities in classrooms for student talk.

Andrews’ Lea Model: The best way for people to learn about language is for them to …  observe language  ask questions about how and why language forms are used as they are in various contexts  make closer and more focused observations  form tentative hypotheses

A balanced language curriculum will include numerous opportunities to explore…  the many reasons why we use language  where language comes from  how it changes and varies according to - who is using it - their purpose - their audience - the setting (context)  ways of assessing language effectiveness in different situations and changing contexts using multiple criteria for effectiveness