 ENGLISH
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Development Process
Language
acquisition is a developmental process. It begins from birth and
continues throughout the primary school and
beyond. The child comes to school with
considerable verbal facility. This is achieved not in
any formal learning or teaching situation but in
the day-to-day social context of the home, and
its most important characteristic is the
engagement of the child in a stimulating and
challenging way. This process of language learning
is linked inextricably with a growing knowledge
of the world. Language, therefore, is also a
central factor in the expansion of the
child’s conceptual framework and body of
knowledge.
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Verbal
Experience
A large part
of the child’s language experience is verbal
and it is through oral language activity that
much of his/her learning takes place, both in and
out of school. The potential of oral language
activity as a learning and teaching medium is
acknowledged in the key role it is given
throughout the curriculum.
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Reading
The ability
to read effectively is an essential requirement
if the child is to benefit fully from the
educational process, to develop his/her
potential, and to participate appropriately as a
citizen in society. This is a crucial element in the
child’s language learning.
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Literacy
The
acquisition of literacy is a principal concern of
the English curriculum and this reflects stated
national policy. It is important that reading,
comprehension and writing skills are acquired
systematically and that children with particular
learning needs are identified at an early stage
and provided with adequate remedial support.
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Writing
Writing has an equal contribution to make to the
child’s language development. The
ability to write clearly and expressively
provides him/her with a skill that can greatly
enhance personal, social and vocational
experience. Furthermore,
through the process of expressing thoughts and
feelings he/she can clarify concepts and explore
emotions. The
child’s writing experience in school can,
therefore, contribute greatly to his/her
cognitive, emotional and imaginative development.
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Integrated
process
Language
learning is an integrated process in which it is
difficult to separate the functions of oral
language, reading and writing. All three are intimately
related and each interacts with the others in a
myriad of ways. For example, the child’s
ability with oral language can be a determining
factor in the speed and effectiveness with which
he/she learns to read, just as his/her experience
of reading can enrich vocabulary and improve
command of sentence structure. |
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