| Many language teachers and learners
tend to ask the question: Why should we teach or learn linguistics? Since
linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language, it seems obvious
that such a study would help a lot in language teaching and learning, although
there is much difference between linguistics and language teaching or learning
in their attitudes towards language, their goals, and their methods. Language is viewed as a system of forms in linguistics, but it is regarded as a set of skills in the field of language teaching. Linguistic research is concerned with the establishment of theories which explains the phenomena of language, whereas language teaching aims at the learner's mastery of language. To bridge the gap between the theories of/linguistics and the practice of foreign language teaching, APPLIED LINGUISTICS serves as a mediating area which interprets the results of linguistic theories and makes them user-friendly to the language teacher and learner. Applied linguistics is conducive to foreign language teaching in two major aspects: Firstly, applied linguistics extends theoretical linguistics in the direction of language learning and teaching, so that the teacher is enabled to make better decisions on the goal and content of the teaching. When faced with the task of designing a syllabus, the teacher has a number of choices. Should he set out to teach the language used in literary works, or that in daily communication? Should he teach the general system of the language, or a part of this system? What are the principles of compiling or choosing text book? What kind of exercise is most suitable? To answer these questions, the teacher is consciously or unconsciously using his understanding of the nature of language learning. Applied linguistics provides the teacher with a formal knowledge of the nature of language and language system, and thus increases his understanding of the nature of language learning. As a result, the teacher can make more informed decisions on what approach to take, hence what to teach. Secondly, applied linguistics states the insights and implications that linguistic theories have on the language teaching methodology. Once the goal and content of the teaching are settled, the teacher has to consider questions of how to teach. Should the teaching-learning process be teacher-centred, textbook-centred, or learner-centred? How should the learner's errors be treated? What techniques should be adopted in the classroom? Since applied linguistics defines the nature of language learning in connection with various linguistic theories, it helps the teacher to choose teaching methods and techniques. |