Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-77). Also available in print.

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This thesis arises out of a critique of the way language is decontextualized and presented from a reductively linguistic viewpoint in foreign language instruction. In particular, it focuses on the weaknesses of the broad approach known as Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and highlights the disparity between its theoretical assumptions and practical applications. With this in mind, the thesis identifies and explores three foundational premises that should be considered as part of an attempt to design a theoretically coherent framework for foreign language instruction. By applying three sets of principles based on these premises, the thesis goes on to outline such a framework. After providing a background to the study, the first consideration is the nature of cultural and communicative performance. The study turns to sociological concepts regarding cultural organization and production, in order to better conceptualize how 'culture' can be understood in the context of foreign language learning. The second part of this area focuses on meaning and communication in order to undermine current treatments of 'language' in foreign language pedagogy. The second area of interest is that of learning and thus considers a number of theories of how people learn. The focus here is on learning-in-general rather than learning languages specifically. What emerges from this are a number of principles that should be borne in mind when creating conditions favorable to language learning. Finally, one largely overlooked area in foreign language learning and applied linguistics more broadly, is how the field of foreign language pedagogy constructs and legitimizes its practices, as well as suppresses its foundational theoretical assumptions in its activities (including research, methodology and teaching). A chapter is therefore devoted to this issue, and a set of principles is formulated in order to ensure that the design of any instructional framework is honest and ethical. Thus furnished with the triangulation of principles, an attempt is made to outline how a learner-focused, ethical pedagogical framework that stresses culture might look. This thesis is theoretical in nature and relies on arguments and positions from diverse and less commonly considered academic fields in foreign language instruction. Its main theoretical inspiration comes from concepts and claims generally considered 'poststructural' or 'postmodern'. However, there is no exclusive devotion to any particular author or theory. It is hoped that this thesis can make a genuine, if not controversial, contribution to the field of foreign language teaching by initiating a dialogue concerning the (lack of) philosophical and epistemological reflexivity in the field.

This study explores the professional values which underpin choices made on behalf of young children (three to seven year olds) for learning a foreign language in English nursery, infant and primary schools. Since the Education Reform Act of 1988, young children in maintained early years settings have been excluded from the modern foreign languages curriculum in England. The aim of this inquiry is to expose the belief systems of individuals in institutions with the power to influence the quality of the early learning experience and notions of status and control with regard to the conceptualisation of both 'childhood' and 'foreign language education'. A value position is unavoidable: any interest on the part of the researcher has been set aside to eliminate traces of attachment and to ensure, as far as possible, an unbiased inquiry. The research questions which lead the investigation are as follows: • Why are modern foreign languages omitted from Government policies for nursery settings and from the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1? • To what extent, if at all, have local education authorities in England already established foreign language initiatives for young learners? • What are the challenges facing schools in the current context for the implementation of a national policy? • What is the underpinning structure that supports the policy making framework for this area of the early years curriculum? For the purpose of this study, the term 'policy maker' is used to encompass headteachers (micro level), local education authority advisers (meso level) and national authorities (macro level). Research methods include case study, postal questionnaire and indepth interviews. Outcomes are presented as an analysis of innovation in one English county, perceptions of early language learning in local education authorities and discussions with policy makers at the national level. A research study which links education policy making, constructions of childhood and theories about modern foreign language acquisition has not yet been conducted in England. It is anticipated that this investigation will contribute to the debate on curriculum and values at the turn of the millennium based on new paradigms for the sociology of childhood and the perceived needs of young children in an increasingly multicultural, multilingual society. The notion of 'bilingualism' will be deconstructed and reconstructed within an inclusive spectrum: the bilingual continuum. The outcomes of the study are likely to have implications for future education policy and practice.

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This qualitative study has investigated a month-long French-as-a-foreign-language summer program. Its goal was to compare teacher (n=4) and student (n=6) perspectives regarding learning objectives, challenges, and preferred teaching/learning approaches and methods, and to evaluate results against Whyte (2011), who argued that a schism in French university language teaching leads to the dominance of explicit (traditional teacher-fronted) instruction at the expense of more communicative teaching approaches. Data collection took place via classroom observations, pre-course interviews and surveys, a post-course teacher focus group, and weekly student reflective logs. A total of 2,211 references were coded to 276 thematic nodes. Results suggest that the teachers involved primarily embrace a traditional classroom dynamic but apply strategies associated with multiple methods, providing evidence for use of what has become known as the Eclectic Method. Some alignment was found between teachers and students concerning goals, challenges, and teaching approaches, and mixed support was obtained for Whyte’s claim regarding a deficit of communicative language teaching, in that both explicit and implicit teaching were observed. / Graduate

At present, there is a great demand for qualified interpreters in Vietnam, but the oral proficiency of the trainee interpreters graduating from the University of Hanoi is far from being satisfactory. This Field Study is an attempt to search for appropriate ways to improve the oral proficiency of final year interpreters at Hanoi University. As any language teacher's work is determined consciously and unconsciously by his/her view of language and language learning, the effective teaching of oral communicative skills requires a good understanding of the nature of language, communication and its process of learning. This field study attempts to review the major theories of language and language learning and their implications for language teaching; and tentatively suggests some guidelines for syllabus design, classroom procedures, and techniques for teaching oral communication skills for final year trainee interpreters at Hanoi University in the light of new developments in these theories of language teaching.