Chomsky's Theory Relevant To Teaching English As A Foreign Language

SECOND ROUND FINAL TEST

This test is worth 100 points.

Read the following essay questions and answer them. Read everything very carefully before answering. Should you use any sources of information, make sure you mention them, otherwise your answers will not be granted any points.

1. How is Chomsky’s theory (generative grammar) relevant to the teaching of English as a foreign language? Provide two examples of its application in the classroom context. This question is worth 10 points. (Overview of theory, 3 points; relevance for the context of English language teaching, 5 points; examples, 2 points.)

To begin with, I will include an overview of this theory, then I will talk about the relevance of this theory to teach English as a Foreign language,

As a result of the appropriate used of this rules, we produce all (an only) the sentences of a specific natural language ("SYN104 - Generative Grammar", 2016).

Relevance of Chomsky’s theory to teach English as a foreign language

This theory is relevant when it comes to teaching languages, because it allows us to design a class based on the most basic notions that our students are familiar with. For example, in each language there are subjects, verbs, objects, etc., that interrelate to form sentences. These sentences are produced based on a set of rules (phrase structure rules) that dictate how we can combine those elements. Also, we can make use of resources that allow us build relatively long sentences, such as coordination, adjectival interaction and prepositional phrase attachment.

Two examples of its application in the classroom context

a) Most students of elementary levels find it difficult to form their question correctly, in that they believe that they can make questions changing the linear order of the auxiliary and the word that goes before it in the corresponding declarative

It does not focus on grammatical issues. Besides, it can include slangs and jargon.

Example:

Hey,

Will arrive evening. Did not catch bus.

Informal: it is colloquial, but it is more concerned with grammar than the familiar register. It is usually used in journalism and sometimes in academic contexts.

Example:

While I was on my way to the Science Lab., a thought struck me that perhaps all that we think is possible, may not be…

Formal: it is mainly used in academic writing; that is why it is very objective, non-personal, and complies with grammar rules.

Example:

Several stages of development have been distinguished in the first year of child’s life when it develops the skills necessary to produce a successful first word. According to…

Ceremonial: long time ago it was used in academic writing, and we can find it in speeches or historical documents.

Example:

I stand on this rostrum with a sense of deep humility and great pride –humility in the wake of those great architects of our history who have stood here before me, pride in the reflection that…

Jargon: it is a special technical vocabulary that has to do with a particular profession, trade or social group. In certain it separates “outsides” and connect “insiders” (Yule,