3.1 Dream Language
Is is strange to find that it takes time to think about what language you think in, isn't it? According to some scientists, a kind of super language exists, a language that is bigger than the lang language system as they are taught in school. Read 'Abstract, The dream frontier, under literature'. Compare the content with your answer to assignment 2.3 what do you think?
- I found out by surfing on the internet that a dream is a set of images, sounds, feeling and thoughts which occurs in someone’s mind during certain stages of sleep and is unreal.“Blechner proposes, contra Freud, that the dream is not exclusively the transformation of latent verbal thoughts but can also be an alternative to verbal thoughts, representing what the thinking mind is capable of when it is not concerned with communicability.”
This has be correct as deaf and blind people are also able to dream. So we do not necessarily dream in words.
“Blechner conceives of dreams as on the far end of a continuum, with inner speech in the middle somewhere and intelligible speech on the opposite end. This paper discusses this notion as problematic, because while Blechner readily admits to the occurrence of language and wordplay in dreams, he places dreams in opposition to speech, and neglects to address the question of what kind of linguistic mental processes might be active during dreaming.”
This statement from the article puzzles me, but then again, I am not a specialist in this. As said earlier in assignment 2.3 I do sometimes recall my dreams with every conversation in it. So therefore I have the opinion that there has to be a connection with linguistic mental process at that specific moment of time. Furthermore how can we otherwise explain why and how people are able to speak out loud while they are sleeping.
http://dreamtalk.hypermart.net/2003_abstracts/patricia_kilroe.htm
3.2 The relevance of Language Awareness for a teacher is ….
To answer this question, we first have to know what the definition of language awareness is.
Definition of Language awareness:
a) content about language, b) language skill, c) attitudinal education and d) metacognitive opportunities, which allow the student to reflect on the process of language acquisition, learning and language use. All four of these aspects of language awareness need to be integrated into the existing subject areas. A focus on language awareness is a key aspect of creating student-centered classrooms, and assists the teacher to present material accordingly to student readiness (Bilash and Tulasiewicz, 1995, p.49)
In my opinion it is very important as a teacher to have language awareness in order to teach the students. In my case teaching English. In this way I am able to conduct my lessons properly with good information about language structures, grammar, spelling, use of language and right pronunciation etc. This also enables me to give an insight in differences e.g. RP English and AE English among others. This in depth knowledge of a teacher will enrich the students.
It also enables me to learn students about socio-cultural differences between people and therefore also in use of language. For instance. The Dutch people are more direct and open than the English and it shows in use of language. If you don’t know this, it could happen that you become “rude” in a conversation unintentionally. Furthermore it is crucial to create an environment in which the students feel motivated, encouraged, challenged and will learn to have a hands-on mentality which is not only needed in the classroom, but also and in a professional working environment afterwards. This mentality also allows the student to reflect on him/herself regarding the learning process.
As a teacher you have got to have language awareness in order to teach the students to learn. What works for one student doesn’t necessarily work for another student. So therefore you also have to be aware of the 8 MIs ( Multiple Intelligence) of the students, and to be able to adapt to these 8 MIs. This is a necessity in order to get your message across to every student. So flexibility and knowledge are the keywords here.
Surfing on the internet looking for information about this topic I found a really nice “toolkit” for language teachers. So if you want to know more about this topic. Please use this link!
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