Delay speaking practice and emphasize listening comprehension in adult language training¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The digest's conclusion recommends an approach stressing receptive skills, particularly listening, before productive skills for older learners. According to the research it cites, effective adult language training programs "use materials that provide an interesting and comprehensible message, delay speaking practice and emphasize the development of listening comprehension, tolerate speech errors in the classroom, and include aspects of culture and non-verbal language use". This creates a classroom atmosphere which supports the learner and builds confidence.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Materials must provide an interesting and comprehensible message.

Constraints¶

• The digest attributes this approach to research by Postovsky (1974), Winitz (1981), and J. Gary and N. Gary (1981); it is presented as a recommendation, not a result tested in this digest.

Target Learners¶

• older adult foreign language learners

Target Learning Goals¶

• listening comprehension before speaking production

Related Strategies¶

• Reduce anxiety and build self-confidence in older language learners
• Concentrate beginning foreign language instruction on listening and speaking

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Schleppegrell, Mary. (1987). The Older Language Learner. ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, Washington DC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED287313