Ph. D Coursework
Paper – 3 Functional Approach
to Learn English Language
Introduction: -
English language teacher all over the world scuffle with the challenges
of teaching grammar and how it should be taught? Questions regarding how to teach it? Because
in English language there are various approaches are available and time and
again different approaches proposed to teaching English language and grammar.
Teachers still have dilemma that which approach should be appropriate to teach
grammar. As Krashen distinguished between ‘acquisition’ and ‘learning’. Development
of language proficiency and language acquisition. Language should be acquired naturally
and for that teacher should provide inputs to the students. Generally, teachers
teach traditional grammar methods and their forms and rules to the students to
teach English language. So many a times
debates can be raised on usage of grammar.
This assignment explains what is the Functional approach? Discuss about
How it help to teach English grammar and language to the students.? What is
functional grammar? Key concept in functional grammar. How functional grammar
is different from traditional grammar? Implementation of functional approach in
teaching and learning second language and various functional activities to
teach English. The purpose of this assignment is to help EFL teachers and have
an overall understanding of functional approach.
Key words: -
Functional approach, English language, Grammar, Classroom Teaching and
Learning.
Use of various approaches and methods for English Language Teaching.
Earlier in school and colleges grammar should taught mainly two
different ways 1) Functional 2) Formal. After that in English Language teaching
various approaches and methods are use like Grammar translation method, Oral
Approach, Natural Approach, Audio lingual method etc. For example, Grammar
translation method is oldest one. In which language teaching is doing by
translating for example to teach L2 learner can take help of native language to
understand and translate L1, written sentence level grammar etc. Other is
structural approach incorporated with structure of the sentence, pattern
practice etc. Then slowly and steadily importance of communicative competence increase
that communication is very important and for that fluency should be required.
For that Dell Hymes, a Sociolinguist was coined term Communicative competence
which are also focuses on language learning and teaching. There are four
competences are important like,
1)
Grammatical competence
2)
Discourse competence
3)
Sociolinguistic competence
4)
Strategic competence
After those changes
can be seen that grammar is important and needed for language learning but the
how language is naturally written and spoken that is also very important point.
So, the necessary is teaching grammar for communicative skills, and this paradigm
shifts some teaching and learning needs, purpose of language learning. A major
outcome of this shift in changing is the thinking of using and emerging need of
using communicative language with the interest in grammar as it relates with
its function, discourse, text, authentic and functional use of language.
Functional Approach –
Systematic Functional Linguistics: A social Theory of Grammar
Functional approach –
Systematic Functional Linguistic (SFL) is developed by Michael Halliday in the
year 1960s. This approach mainly focuses on written and spoken skills. Language
should be operated in social context and situation. Language is use for
functional purposes. Halliday’s classic book is “An Introduction to Functional
Grammar”. This book focuses on grammar should be use functional rather than formal.
It is functional in three distinct senses 1) of texts 2) of the system 3) of
the elements of the linguistic structure. Functional grammar based on social and
cultural context. Functional grammar means use of language. First is text means
functional grammar is how language is used and that text is easy to understand.
Second is system, the fundamental components of meaning in language are
functional components. According to the analysis of Halliday, all languages are
organized around two kinds of meaning, the ‘ideational’ and the
‘interpersonal’. Combined with these two is a third component, the ‘textual’,
which breathes relevance into the other two. In the third sense, each element
in a language is explained by reference to his function in the total linguistic
system.
Based on Halliday’s
modal, Thompson explains the three meta functions of functional grammar in an
informal way as follow: 1) We use language to talk about our experience of the
world, including the world in our mind, to describe events and states and the
entities involved in them. 2) We also use language to interact with other
people, to established and maintain relation with them, to influence their behaviour,
to express our own viewpoint on things in the world, and to elicit or change
theirs. 3) Finally, in using language, we organize our messages in ways which
indicate how they fit the other messages around them and wider context in which
we are talking or writing. How people use grammar for communication or speaking
for their specific purposes. Functional grammar is Natural grammar.
Key concepts in
Functional Grammar
Functional grammar
has many concepts which help to provide clear explanation of them. Functional
grammar has its own characteristics. It works for communicative purpose. In
functional grammar functions and systems, hierarchical raking of units, word
order, word groups, functions of sentence, theme, transitivity and clause
complex.
Relationship between
spoken and written language
Halliday mentioned
that spoken and written language are related to each other. But thought the
kinds of meaning transmitted in writing is different from the kind of meaning
transmitted in speaking. Speaking and writing serve different people and for
different social context and their different purposes. During speaking,
speakers use their natural utterance, common vocabulary and particular language
pattern that is totally different from writing. Writing is use for perfect
sentence structure and it’s use in a different context. Though the same text is
use for both speaking and writing even we find changes in both.
Difference in nature
between functional grammar and traditional grammar
Functional grammar is
new and modern approach to teach and learn English grammar. It is different
from traditional grammar. Fundamental difference between traditional and
functional grammar is that Traditional grammar is form based and functional
grammar is meaning based. Traditional grammar follows rules for perfect
sentence structure but functional grammar teaches how sentences use in
communication because functional approach is for communication purpose and
language is look at as a system of meaning. Traditional grammar is set of rules
on the other side functional grammar is meaning making grammar.
Functional grammar
can help learners to use language in real life context, in a social and cultural
context while traditional grammar is mainly concerned with how language use
correctly in writing format, not teach its practical way of using in real life
context. So, as per the above discussion between traditional and functional
grammar there is vast different in both. However, their practices, method and
purposes and application for teaching learning grammar are quite different.
Implications for
English Teaching and Learning
Functional grammar is
more sociological in orientation. Functional grammar is for communicative
perspective. So, for EFL students this method of learning grammar is very
helpful. In schools and colleges, Students learn traditional grammar so they
know language as a set of rules. But functional grammar teaches how to use
language for communicative point of view, how to use language in different
situations. Functional grammar will help students in analysis of text.
Integration of Functional grammar will help to learn and teach language more
practical way. Specially students of EFL can get benefits through this because
they are weak in English specially in writing and speaking language.
The most apparent practical
classroom application of functional descriptions of language was found in the
development of functional syllabuses, more popularly notional – functional
syllabuses. The “functional” part of the notional – functional syllabus
corresponded to what we have define above as language functions. Curricula were
organized around such functions as identifying, reporting, denying, declining
an invitation, asking permission, apologizing etc. Functional syllabuses remain today in
modified form. A typical current language textbook will list a sequence of
communicative functions that are covered.
·
Introducing self and other people
·
Exchanging personal information
·
Asking how to spell someone’s name
·
Giving commands
·
Apologizing and thanking
·
Identifying and describing people
·
Asking for information
This conversation
practice can do with classmate, interactive, group work, role play, grammar and
pronunciation.
Halliday’s Seven
Functions of Language
Michael Halliday
outlined seven important language functions, which is used for purposive
communication.
1)
The Instrumental function - This is communicative act. Ex – Don’t touch
the stove.
2)
The regulatory function – The regulatory function of language is the
control of events. For ex- rules, approval, disapproval, laws etc.
3)
The representational function – The representational function is use of
language to make a statement convey facts and knowledge. For ex – The sun is
hot.
4)
The interactional function – This interactional function work for
communicative purpose. For successful interactional communication require
knowledge of jargon, jokes, folklore, cultural mores etc.
5)
The personal function - It is person’s individuality to use of his or
her personal function of language. It allows a speaker to express feelings and
emotions.
6)
To know something questions arise and it led towards the answers. For
examples – children. Children asks various questions related to many things
because they are curious to know more.
7)
The imaginative function – This function serves to create imaginary
systems or ideas. For that fairy tale, poetry, joking, noels, tongue twisters
all are uses for imaginative function.
These all functions will help to learn language. One single sentence may
incorporate with different functions. Learner should have to prepare with
words, vocabulary, lexical items, syntax, nonverbal signals etc.
Functional
activities for students
1)
Introducing self and others – Self introduction is an important part of
communication skills. Students will be able to introduced themselves as well as
others in formal and informal way. This introduction activity work in small
class sizes.
2)
Let’s name it – Students will be able to identified noun and pronouns in
the sentence. For that do the activities like 1) The Longest List 2) Guess the
sport
3)
Describing people – Students will be able to use language to describe
people, place and events around us. Give a task in group.
4)
Passing the verb game – Students can pass verb like passing the parcel.
5)
Pair work, Team work and large group discussion for learning every day
English.
6)
Motivate students to engage in listening and reading activities and
learn new words in a context.
7)
Give the task to students that frame different types of sentences on
recently visited any place, on Navratri function of your college.
8)
Paragraph writing and story writing.
9)
Q & A session
10) In pair work arrange
the telephonic conversation.
11) Give a particular
topic to students and write an email.
Conclusion
Functional grammar has significance in teaching and learning English
language. Functional approach has opened the wide research filed ELT.
Functional grammar provides a new view language as a communicative resource
whose goal is to create meaning.
References
Brown, H Douglas. Principles of
language Learning And Teaching . Person Longman, n.d.
Burns, Anne. "Functional approach to teaching Teaching English
grammar to speakers of other languages." researchgate 2016: 24.
Feng, Zhiwen. "Functional Grammar and Its Implications for English
Teaching and Learning." English Language Teaching 2013.
"Finishing School Trainers Manual." n.d.
Halliday, M A.K. Introduction To Functional Grammar. Routledge,
n.d.
