Analysis of the Importance of a Teacher in Foreign Language Teaching and Learnin

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 成都理工大学外国语学院/叶丹 自流井区荣边镇中心小学校/文灵【Abstract】 A learner is not a passive recipient, but a key factorinfluencing the learning process and results. However, a teacheris still vitally important in foreign language teaching and learningprocess.

【Key words】 Teacher’s Importance; Foreign LanguageTeaching/Learning

Previously, much of the discussion about language learningfocused on the teaching techniques and materials. It had a focuson the teacher. It seemed to be an unexpressed view that theleaner was a container into which language knowledge could bepoured. Later, change in linguistic pedagogy has occurred sincethe 20th century. And the learner is viewed as an active participantin the learning process and should take partial responsibility forhis own learning results. It has had a focus on the learner. In factthe learner is definitely a key factor which has a great influenceon learning process and results. However, it does not mean thelearner is the only key factor. Teachers are also vitally importantin foreign language teaching and learning process.

Language teaching is concerned about a huge number ofdifferent factors and all those are far-reaching fields involvingan ocean of items. Teaching (methods/ approaches/ designs/procedures), learning (learning/ process/ learning strategies/differences among learners/ learning styles/ affective factors),learning materials (listening/ speaking/ reading/ writing/translating), language ability (linguistic competence/ pragmaticcompetence/ strategic competence/ discourse competence/fluency), environments (society/ government/ school/ family/classroom) and policies (educating/ teaching), all with theconcerned knowledge are mastered and applied by teachers (notby learners) to make a successful class.

Besides, it is the teacher who figures out the learner factorsor strategies, puts into teaching practice and triggers the successon learners. LAD (Language Acquisition Device), age, aptitude,motivation， attitude, personality, cognitive styles, hemispherespecialization， learning strategies, interest， sex， priorexperience， memory and awareness, all these numerous andcomplicated stuff are the powerfully influential factors which areclosely related to the learners but which are also dealt with byteachers in a correct sense. In other words, realizing an authenticlearner-centered model successfully needs a teacher’s sense, skillsand strategies. Looking beyond learner strategies, a broader area oflearner autonomy including various self-learning and self-directionaspects cannot yet be isolated from the help of the teacher.

A Chinese old says a teacher, one who could propagate thedoctrine， impart professional knowledge， and resolve doubts.

A teacher holds diverse roles within the educational environment.

A teacher is best known for educating the learners. Beyond that,teachers serve many other roles in the classroom. Teachers set thetone of their classrooms, build a warm environment, mentor andnurture students, and deal with varieties of troubles. A teacher isan instructor, disciplinarian, motivator and organizer. Outside theclassroom, a teacher should also work to facilitate the continuingdevelopment of learners acting as a counselor, a soul keeperand a supervisor. Teachers have an indispensable impact on thegrowth of learners, from the world views to life value; fromthe personality to moral characters etc. Teachers’ influencessupplement these from parents.

Nowadays, foreign language teaching’s main goals remainfor CALP (cognitive/academic language proficiency related togeneral cognitive skills and academic achievement) and BICS(basic interpersonal communication skills consisting of accent,oral fluency and sociolinguistic competence) (Cummins, 1980). Itis a teacher that understands the goals best and helps the learnersestablish the concept of foreign language learning and master thelearning strategies.

What should be clarified is that advocating the importance ofteacher in foreign language learning and teaching is not to rejectthe importance of the learner to language learning. To achieve thegoals needs both teachers and learners. In the past, it was totallyteacher-centered, and it is found that is wrong. At present if itwere exclusively learner-centered, it could be wrong too. Learnerand teacher are two neutrons in an atom. A teacher is vitallyimportant in foreign language teaching and learning process too.

Hence enough attention should be paid to teacher’s own needsand development. Teachers deserve consideration the same as thelearners deserve. Caring teacher should also be in the category ofhumanism.

References:

[1]Diane Larsen-Freeman and Michael H.Long.An Introduction toSecond Language Acquisition Research.Beijing:Foreign LanguageTeaching and Research Press,2000.

[2]Keith Johnson.An Introduction to Foreign Language Learningand Teaching.Beijing:Foreign Language Teaching and ResearchPress,2003.

[3]Norbert Schmitt,ed.An Introduction to Applied Linguistics.

Beijing:Beijing world publishing corporation ＆GreatBritain:Edward Arnold(Publishers)Limited,2008.