"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die." -Evelyn Waugh
This week we read about grammar and vocabulary assessment. This quote, while probably meant for native speakers, applies well to the second language classroom. Just providing students with terms and definitions or grammatical structures and not giving them time to be practiced and absorbed is like introducing someone to thirty people all at once. A couple of names will stick with the person, but mostly the faces will blur and the names will all run together. People's names don't matter to a person until those people matter. The same is true for words. A teacher has to help the words and structures matter so that they can be remembered. The "fertilizing" mentioned in the quote can be interpreted to mean practice and formative assessment.
English is a particularly challenging language for several reasons. Among these is the greed of the language. English is constantly stealing and borrowing vocabulary terms and phrases from other languages. This makes the language rich and interesting, but also complex and confusing- especially for the second language student. Grammar and vocabulary assessment, also called form-focused assessment is necessary particularly in the beginning of language learning- or at the introduction of specific concepts in language. Grammar and vocabulary are central to effective communication, but teachers of language must not forget that they are a means not an ends. Communication and understanding are the goals. We want students to be able to read, write, listen, and speak effectively. Proper grammar and a wide vocabulary will help, but there is much more to language than memorizing words and structures.
I like your quote. I can relate to the fact that if you do not use a language on a pretty consistent basis, then you will lose what you have learned. I have a BA in Japanese and studied it for about four years but I cannot remember much of what I have learned. This is because I rarely ever use my Japanese anymore. I suppose I will have an easier time relearning it compared to someone who has never learned Japanese. I am currently trying to re-teach myself some Spanish. It is slowly coming back to me.
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of not remembering a persons name, unless that person made some kind of impact. It does relate to remembering words, I can only remember certain words because I either relate it or the word itself relates to personal life. I studied Japanese and I can only remember a few words and sentences because my professors made it interesting and I too made it interesting by practicing speaking the language with my colleagues. I definitely need to hit the books more often to maintain whatever vocabulary I have and to also enhance my vocabulary.
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