The Acquisition Vs Learning Education Essay

The encyclopaedism Vs Learning sound outment EssayThe innateness of actors line structure is most relevant to the make for by which a nipper learns its runner speech. The first speech is learnt informally, naturally and spontaneously without the child being awargon of the fact that it is learning something. But on that point comes a stage when the child learns a new delivery which may be the reciprocal ohm or third words. As assist or third verbiage learning happens done a formal process, exposure to an altogether different kind is craved where the learning situation is artificial.It is generally said that lot bewilder the first dustup and learn the randomness language but experts in the ambit often exercise it interchangeably. People learn or acquire these languages in different circumstances with different results. The difference between first language and second language acquisition atomic number 18 presumably due to different conditions that both facilita tes or constraint language acquisition/learning. In First Language Acquisition (FLA) abundant exposure is available but it is not so with the second language where natural circumstances ar available. It is done instruction that second language is mostly learnt. Second Language acquisition appears to be a process which exhibits certain regularities, is constrained by a number of factors determining its course, rate of progress, and final outcome, is subject, within certain limits, to external influences such(prenominal) as (methods of ) instruction(Klein, 1988.1).Krashen attempts to distinguish between the first language acquisition and second language learning by saying, there argon two independent ways to farming ability in second languages. Acquisition is a subconscious process identical in all key ways to the process children utilize in acquiring their first language, while learning is a conscious process that results in knowing about language (1985.1). Hence, Acquiring a la nguage is picking it up i.e. developing ability in a language for use in natural, communicative situations. Language learning is knowing the rules, having a conscious noesis of the grammar (Chaudhary, cc2, 96).A second language give the gate be acquired rather than learnt in situations where children move over exposure to a wide range of languages i.e. a multilingual situation is conducive to language acquisition. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that there is a wide range of learners from different environments and settings which affect the degree to which learners dumbfound the opportunity to acquire the second language. Moreover, cognitive processes of learning by rule formation helps learners to acquire language faster than by the natural processes of unconscious acquisition.Teacher Education in IndiaThe phylogeny of both, Pre-service and In-service instructor study in India is explained, in order to gain a good knowledge of the objectives of the programmes, the trainings that have taken adjust in various trailer program line programmes and the current state of affairs in the field of instructor reading in India.Pre-service teacher commandmentTeacher breeding programmes have existed in the country for over a century. In the 1850s, teacher training existed as an undifferentiated course of study meant for school teachers. Later, on the recommendations of the Indian Education explosive charge (1884), the teacher training programmes were mode much differentiated and for graduates the course was designed to be of shorter duration.During the twentieth century, greater differentiation was sought and practised with respect to the stages at which teachers were expected to teach. Alongside this, different training modes were introduced, such as regular campus-cum-practicing school experience, correspondence-cum-contact programmes and the more recent distance learning programmes of teacher knowledge. Despite such diversification, the basic features of these programmes as wellspring as the theoretical premises have not altered significantly. Although newer concerns surface from time to time have been taken cognition of, for e.g. learner-centeredness and the break-with-methods. These concerns have not influenced in any major way the main stream outline of teacher education (Stern, 1983).The victor preparation of teachers has been recognized to be crucial for the qualitative improvement of education since the 1960s (Kothari Commission, 1964-66). The Commission, in particular notes the need for teacher education to bebrought into the mainstream of the academic life of the Universities on the matchless hand and of school life and educational cultivation on the other.Recognizing quality as the essence of a programme of teacher education, the Commission recommended the interdiction of coordinated courses of general and professional education in Universities and a comprehensive programme of internship.Subsequently (198 3-85), The Chattopadhyaya Committee Report of the National Commission on Teachers envisioned the in the buff Teacher as one who communicates to pupilsthe importance of and the feeling for national integrity and unity the need for a scientific attitude a commitment to goodness in standards of work and action and a concern for society.The Commission observed thatwhat obtains in the majority of our Teaching Colleges and Training Institutes is woefully inadequateIf teacher education is to be made relevant to the authoritys and responsibilities of the New Teacher, the minimum length of training for a Secondary teacher should be five course of instructions following the apogee of class 12.Reiterating the need to enable general and professional education to be pursued concurrently, the Commission recommends thatto begin with we may have an integrated four year programme which should be developed carefully it may too be possible for some of the existing colleges of Science and Arts to introduce an Education subdivision along with their other programmes allowing for a section of their students to opt for teacher education.The Chattopadhyaya Commission recommends a four-year integrated course for the secondary as well as the easy teacher. (NCERT, 2005)The National insurance policy of Education (NPE 1986-92) recognized thatteachers should have the freedom to innovate, to art divert methods of communion and activities relevant to the necessarily of and capabilities of and the concerns of the community.The policy further states thatteacher education is a continuous process, and its pre-service and in-service components are inseparable.As a first step, the brass of teacher education was to be overhauled. The Acharya Ramamurti Committee (1990) in its re take in of the NPE 1986 observed that an internship example for teacher training should be adopted because the internship model is firmly base on the primary value of actual field experience in a realistic si tuation, on the development of doctrine method skills by practice over a period of time.The Yashpal Committee Report (1993) on Learning without burden famedinadequate programmes of teacher preparation lead to unsatisfactory quality of learning in schools The content of the programme should be restructured to ensure its relevance to the changing ineluctably of school education. The emphasis in these programmes should be on enabling the trainees to acquire the ability for self-learning and independent thinking. (NCERT, 2005)In-service Teacher EducationSimilar developments have taken place in respect of in-service programmes of teacher education. However, it may be noted that the in-service programmes have drawn their substance from the emerging needs and concerns of education appeared from time to time. As a result these programmes have, at at best, been awareness programmes in respect of specific concerns and not teacher development programmes, as visualized.As an outcome of the National Policy on Education (1986), orientation of school teachers gained momentum on a mass scale. Efforts have been initiated over the past few years to gradually develop a network of institutions like DIETS, IASEs, CTEs with the mandate of providing in-service education to primary and secondary school teachers respectively. During the last decade the use of satellite interactive television establish activities have been provided for teacher up-gradation as part of the SOPT and DPEP projects. The majority of them however continue to perform their legacy functions (NCERT), 2005).The major indicator of quality of training is its relevance to the needs of teachers. The transactional approach and other concepts like activity based educational activity, joyful learning, classroom management for large size classes and multi grade situations, team teaching, co-operative and collaborative learning which require demonstration and participatory training are besides planned to included i n in-service education programmes. The potential for radical shifts in school practices and programmes via hard-hitting in-service education programmes has been acknowledged by most Education Committees and Commissions.The Report of the National Commission on Teachers (1983-85) highlighted the absence of of clear-cut policies and priorities for in-service education and privation of systematic identification of needs. It recommended be after ahead of time and closure scrutiny of methodologies adopted for in-service education of teachers. It also recommended that strategies utilize for in-service education must be imaginative, bold and varied. It further states that the most effective among them are the services organized through the school complex put forward by the Kothari Commission intends to link primary and secondary schools with a view to pulling resources and including the educational processes.The commission mooted the idea of Teachers Centres that could function asa mee ting place for teachers located in a school that has resources that it would like to cover with others it is a forum where workshops practical in nature are organized for teachers of all faculties and at all trains it pools in the talents of all teachers of various schools who act as resource personnel for centres workshops and it arranges book fairs. What teachers need most is a change in the climate of schools, an atmosphere conducive to educational research and enquiry (select) teachers could be given study leave and sent to advanced centres of learning for furthering their professional competence through visiting fellowships.The landmark National Policy on Education (1986) linked in-service teacher education as a continuum with pre-service education. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of restructuring and strengthening of teacher education was evolved and implemented. The scheme visualized the establishment of DIETs in each district, up-gradation of 250 Colleges of Education as Coll eges of Teacher Education, establishment of 50 institutes of Advanced Studies in Education (IASEs) and strengthening of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (NCERT, 2005).In all these reports, common ideas expressed are the need to restructure the teacher education programmes to the changing needs of education, and to make these programmes more as awareness- raising programmes. Also, these programmes require to be demonstrative and participatory in nature, with varied strategies to explore methodologies.With all these developments in teacher education, it is interesting and important to see the outcome of these changes from the perspectives of teachers, teacher educators and researchers.REFERENCESStern, H. H. (1983). cardinal Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford Oxford University Press.NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) (2005). Fifth Survey of Educational Research (1988-1992). Vol. I and II. New Delhi NCERT.NCERT (National Council of Educ ational Research and Training) (2005). National Curriculum Framework. New Delhi NCERT.II CHAPTERIn order to organize and interpret the descriptive data, the following three related areas in the literature were reviewed. These are (a) Theories of language teaching and learning, (b) The methods of language teaching and language skills and (c) In-service teacher education. This chapter puts together the summary of the review findings from these three major areas.Researchers acknowledge the complexity involved in teaching and in learning to teach effectively (Ballentyne, Bain and Packer, 1999 Calderhead, 1996 Clark and Peterson, 1986). At the primary and secondary levels, the difficult and complicated process of learning to teach has been well studied (Ethell, 1997 Wideen, Mayer-Smith, and Moon, 1998). Emerging from these researches is the understanding of the central role that teachers views and theories play in teaching practice (Pajares, 1992 Richardson, 1996 and Trumbull, 1990).The field of language teaching is subject to rapid changes. This is because the profession responds to new educational paradigms and trends, changes in curriculum, and students needs. Educational institutions also face new challenges resulting from changes in language teaching. As a result, teachers need regular opportunities to update their professional knowledge and skills. This update is necessary for teachers to take appropriate decisions in the classroom. Decision taking depends on teachers understanding and assumptions about language teaching.The dominant conception of teacher learning and development as development of skills of transaction which is largely unreflective has led to a formal procedure of following instructions from authority. The result is that teachers are growing more alienated for a lack of personalised significance in the teaching and learning processes. So, the search for an ersatz model of development is motivated by dissatisfaction with the existing one an d possibility of an alternative view as holding more potential to address issues of concern to this study. This could be in form of providing opportunities to teachers voice their views about teaching/learning face as a second language. It could also be reflecting on their practices, thus finding out their own insights in more concrete terms and, through INSET programmes, rethinking of their teaching practices for better understanding of teaching and learning processes.In the reconstituted view of teacher change, teachers are seen as playing an active, developmental and constructivist role that is based on both understanding and skills. This alternative view of teachers receives support in the literature where, for instance, teachers have been seen as authors of reform (Krishner, 2002.47), as researchers and curriculum developers (Stenhouse, 1975), and as progressing towards self-authorship (Baxtor Magolda, 2001, 2002, 2003, 200 and King, 2004). The responsibility this entails in m aking informed choices as a teacher is a moral and intellectual meaning making process involving the teacher in self-reflection. Beyond acquiring behaviour, it centres more fundamentally on the views of teachers about the nature of knowledge, nature of teaching and learning, and, their role in making explicit their implicit theories of teaching/learning, among other things. In this chapter, the theories of teaching and learning, methods of teaching language skills will be discussed in detail. It will also discuss the INSET programmes offered in India and, look at some studies in these areas in order to arrive at a methodological modelling of the present study.Theories of TeachingTeachers teach within the context of framework of assumptions that shape their planning and interactive decisions. Theories of teaching are central to how one understands the nature and importance of classroom practices. As Posner (1985) observes, different theories of teaching lead to a different understan ding of classroom life.A didactic view of teaching is based on the belief that teaching is primarily concerned with transmitting knowledge through providing clear explanations, or discussions.A discovery view of teaching by contrast, is based on the idea that students can develop knowledge themselves through active investigation and discovery, with a minimum of teacher explanation and with a provision of opportunities to learn inductively from observation.An fundamental interactionist view, on the other hand, holds that students come with well-formed ideas, so that there is a necessary interaction between the students own ideas and the learning materials.While general teaching theories such as these have informed approaches to mainstream teaching, such as behaviourist, cognitive-developmental, social-psychological, theories specific to second language teaching and learning have been developed and formed the basis for specific methodologies for language teaching such as the communi cative go on and Natural Approach. However, teaching is an several(prenominal) activity. As such, teacher development involves teachers in creating an approach that draws on their experiences and understanding as well as their personal principles about food teaching. These are known as the teachers implicit theories of teaching.the explanations given by teachers for what they do are typically not derived from what they were taught in teacher education programmesRather, the classroom actions of teachers are guided by internal frames of reference which are deeply rooted in personal experiences, especially in school ones, and are based on interpretations of these experiences.(Marland, 1995. 131)Theories of LearningThere are numerous approaches and theories which have a huge impact on learning. Generally, approaches provide information about how people acquire their knowledge of the language and about the conditions which will promote successful language learning. Five major approache s to language teaching/learning will be discussed below.The Naturalistic ApproachThis approach is based on the assumption that language acquisition is innately determined and that one is born with a certain system of language that one can call on later. Numerous linguists and methodologists support this innateness hypothesis. Chomsky, who is the leading proponent, claims that each human being possesses a set of innate properties of language which is responsible for the childs mastery of a native language in a short span of time (Brown, 2002. 24). correspond to Chomsky, the mechanism, which he calls language acquisition device (LAD), governs all human languages, and determines what possible form human language may take (Dulay, Burt, Krashen, 1982. 6).Some linguists, in particular Stephen Krashen, distinguish between acquisition and learning. Acquisition is supposed to be a subconscious process which leads to fluency. Learning, on the other hand, is a conscious process which shows it self in terms of learning rules and structures. Furthermore, Krashen claims that there are three internal processors that operate when students learn or acquire a second language the subconscious filter and the organizer as well as the conscious monitor (Dulay, Burt, Krashen 1982. 11-45). The organizer determines the organization of the learners language system, the usage of incorrect grammatical constructions as provisional precursors of grammatical structures, the systamatical occurrence of errors in the learners utterances as well as a common order in which structures are learnt. The filter is responsible for the extent to which the learners acquisition is influenced by social circumstances such as motivation and affective factors such as anger or anxiety. The monitor is responsible for conscious learning. The learners correct mistakes in their speech according to their age and malaise (Dulay, Burt, Krashen 1982.45).Cognitive ApproachCognitive psychologists claim that one of the main factors of second language acquisition is the building up of a knowledge system that can eventually be called on automatically for speaking and understanding. At first, learners have to build up a general knowledge of the language they want to understand and produce. After a lot of practice and experience they will be able to use certain parts of their knowledge very quickly and without realizing that they did so. Gradually, this use becomes unconscious and the learners may focus on other parts of the language.The cognitive theory is relative newcomer to second language acquisition and there have been only a few empirical studies about this approach so far. Although it is known that the processes of automatizing and restructuring are central to the approach, it is still not clear what kinds of structures will be automatized through practice and what will be restructured. Also it cannot predict which first language structures will be transferred and which will not. As far as th e phenomenon of restructuring is concerned, psychologists state that things that one knows and uses automatically may not necessarily learned through a gradual build-up of automaticity but they may be based on the interaction on knowledge one already has. They may also be based on the acquisition of new language which somehow fits into an existing system and may, in fact, restructure this system (Lightbown and Spada, 1995. 25). Two important models in this approach are Attention processing model and Implicit and Explicit models.The Constructive ApproachIn the constructive paradigm, learning emphasizes the process ans the product. Learning is process of constructing meaningful representations, of making sense of ones experiential world. In this process, students errors are seen in a positive light and as means of gaining insight into how they are organizing their experiential world. The notion of doing something right or correctly is to do something that fits with an order one has c ompleted oneself (Von Glasersfield, 1987. 15). This perspective is consistent with the constructivist tendency to support multiple truths, representations, perspectives and realities.Multiplicity is an overriding concept for constructivism. It defines not only the epistemological and theoretical perspective but also the many ways in which the theory itself can be articulated. Researchers and theorists have developed variants of constructivism or have evolved the theory in different directions. Nonetheless, there are many common themes in the literature on constructivism which permit the derivation of principles, instructional models and general characteristics.Social Interaction ApproachAccording to Vygotsky, social interaction plays a vital role in the learning process. He emphasizes the role of shared language in the development of thought and language which stands for social interaction. According to Vygotsky (1962) children develop higher order cognitive functions such as lingui stic skills, through interactions with adults or more knowledgeable peers. Eventually these skills are internalized independently. The most important interactions take place within a childs Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). It is the teachers duty to try to take each child to the next level (X+1). The teacher does this by giving maximum help to the children. Perhaps he/she can give learners just the prompt they need. This prompt provides for the learners a breakthrough he/she needs. sometimes the teacher can take the whole class through a series of steps, which help them solve the problem. Learning depends on the differences in their areas of zones of proximal development. Children are to be exposed to the social interaction first and it will eventually enable them build their inner resources.Vygotskys contention is that language is the key to all development and words play a central role on the development of thought but in the growth of cognition as a whole. Therefore, child lan guage acquisition is the result of social interaction. Teaching is social responsibility and a cognitive activity.The Communicative ApproachProponents of this approach state that the goal of language teaching is communicative competence. Another aim is the development of procedures for the teaching of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Moreover, the four skills build the basis of the independence of language and talk (Richards and Rodgers, 1986. 64-66).According to Littlewood, one of the most important aspects of Communicative Language Teaching is that it plays systematic attention to functional as well as structural aspects of language (Littlewood, 1981.1). Another important aspect is pair and group work. Learners should work in pairs or groups and try to solve problematic tasks with their available language knowledge.Generally, communicative language teaching focuses on communicative and contextual factors in language use and it is learner-centre d and experience-based.A central aspect of Communicative Language Teaching is communicative competence. (See also )Also there is little discussion of learning theory, there are still some elements that, according to Richards and Rodgers (1986), can be defined as communication principles and meaningfulness principles. The first one includes activities that involve real communication which are supposed to promote learning. The second element describes activities in which language is used for carrying out meaningful tasks which are also supposed to promote learning. The last one states that language that is meaningful to the learner supports the learning process. Of great importance is meaningful and authentic language use (Richards and Rodgers, 1986. 72).In-service Teacher Education (INSET)Teachers can continue to be learners and develop their pedagogical understandings using their beliefs, by engaging themselves in ongoing professional development opportunities. One of these opportun ities is the In-service teacher education programmes where teachers can learn to reflect on other teachers teaching and, think meta cognitively about teaching and learning which is a key factor in being able to resolve problems and dilemmas that arise in their daily teaching practices.There are fundamental assumptions underlying teacher education (Fullen, 1991)Teacher education must be thought of as a career long proposition.Teacher development and the academic development of the school in terms of curriculum, materials, and methods of teaching must go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other.The role of teacher education programmes in preparing teachers for the difficult initiative of teaching a second language (English) in India, and particularly the role of in-service teacher education programmes and their impact of teachers classroom teaching would be examined, keeping the above said assumptions in the forefront.In-service Teacher Education (INSET) in IndiaThe need f or ongoing teacher education has been a recurring theme in language teaching circles in recent years and has been given renewed focus as a result of the emergence of teacher-led initiatives such as action research, team teaching and reflective teaching. Opportunities for an in-service education are crucial for long term development of teachers.The well established tradition of teaching and learning in India has retained its integral strength even under adverse circumstances. The post-independence period was characterized by major efforts being made to nurture and transform teacher education. The system of teacher education has come under considerable pressure as a result of expansion and growth of school education. Having inherited the foreign model of teacher education at the time of independence from Britain in 1946, major efforts have been made to adapt and upgrade teacher education curriculum to local needs, to make it more context-based. The current system of teacher education is supported by a net work of national state and district level resource institutions operative together to increase the quality and effectiveness of teacher education programmes for serving teachers throughout the country.The changing role of teachers in the changing definitions of teacher effectiveness have been frequently studied and analysed. The current focus on teacher education is to develop professional competencies, and achieve higher levels of commitment and motivation for higher level performance in teaching. Emerging information and communication technologies is an added dimension to the teacher education programmes. As a result of all these developments, teacher education in India is on the verge of major transformation.Bolam 1986) define teacher education asEducation and training activities engaged in by teachers following their initial professional certification, and intended primarily or exclusively to improve their professional knowledge, skills and attitudes in o rder that they can educate childrenmore effectively.In-service training for teachers in India is provided byThe State plane section of Education.Colleges of Education.Educational associations.Voluntary Agencies.In-service programmes are often conducted via short term instructional courses and workshops. Many teachers take part in these programmes which contain a mix of many-courses and informative lectures.Each state has a State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) and whenever a new curriculum is implemented, massive training programmes are arranged across the state. At the district level, District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETS) undertake education programmes to train the teachers at district level. In the absence of DIETS, the Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs or IASEs) are entrusted with the responsibilities of training the teachers.The INSET programmes currently in practice can all be put under five different categories based on the aims of the p rogrammes. The following table familiarizes with some types of INSET programmes currently offered in India.Types of INSET programmes in IndiaINSERT PROGRAMMEAIMSOrganized by educational Institutions such as CIEFL or RIEEnriching teachers subject knowledge and pedagogyCentrally designed programmes such as KV schoolsTeaching approaches such as orienting all teachers towards CLT approachestopically determined programmes. For e.g. ALC School coursesAttending to the felt needs of schoolsOne-off short programmesSpecific aims such as teaching vocabulary, or developing materialsProgrammes determined by individual needsPursuing higher education or self-developmentTable 21 Types of INSET programmes in India(Source Mathew, R.2005)These programmes differ mainly in their aims of the programmes and thereby differ in their training methodologies also. The takers of the programme also vary in each of these INSET programmes. As a result, the impact of these courses also differ. For example, many tea chers who are volition to attend the three month INSET courses offered by the Regional Institute of South India (RIESI) are serious about updating themselves with the latest developments in the field of ELT and re-equipping themselves to meet the changing demands made by the students, parents and the society.Another example of an INSET course was the 5-Day intensive training programme for teachers working in rural areas which used to be offered by the RIE (i