Flexible TESOL Programs

Linguistic learning Have you ever wondered why the student sitting next to you can get all the word problems in math correct, or why some students are better at writing than others? Well, the most probable answer is that they are Linguistic learners. Linguists is the study of human language. Linguistic learning is a style of learning that refers to a person's ability to reason, solve problems, and learn using language. Linguistics has several fields or categories that fall under its heading. The categories include phonetics, the study of the physical properties of speech; phonology, the study of sounds; morphology, the study of words and how they are modified; syntax, the study of how words are used in grammatical structures; semantics, the study of the meaning of words; and pragmatics, the study of how words are perceived and communicated. Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) work within these areas of linguistics. They help to remediate the articulation of spoken sounds and words and the use of language, i.e. grammar, sentence structure, pronoun use, etc… Most SLPs work in a school setting and work with children from birth to 21. Some traits of a linguistic learner are: they can express themselves very well and are good listeners, they have a good memory for printed and spoken information. They love new words and use language creatively, such as poetry, foreign languages, tongue twisters and word games. (Logsdon) Linguistic learners usually become professional or creative writers, news correspondents, poets, attorneys, publicists, psychologists, and work in editorial and advertising positions. How do linguistic learners learn? They learn best by using spoken or written materials. Some ways that help a linguistic learner in school are: to talk about what you learn, work in a group so you can explain and discuss what you are learning, they only highlight ten percent of the book they are reading, always rewrite their notes, and orally practice any information, such as scripts and debates. (Gardner) In math classes these learners do very well with word problems vs. solving equations. They also do very well with written projects and in journalism classes. Speech and drama classes are also very good choices for linguistic learners. Most debate clubs are full of linguistic language types. As a Speech and Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) for my local school district, this subject is one that is close to my heart. Even though I have studied linguistics before, I have never looked at it from and ESOL view. I feel sometimes that in my practice as an SLPA, even though I am working with native english speakers, it feels like I am teaching english to english Language Learners. The degree of disordered speech and language some students have seems very comparable to what an international student would be faced with. After talking with some international students at my children’s school, and getting to know their challenges with language, I feel that what I have learned in this course will not only improve my own language but open the door to more opportunities in teaching language and working with students. Linguistic learning is a style of learning in which learners use language to solve, reason and learn with the use of language. Linguistics is the study of human language and encompasses six categories/fields of language. Linguistic learners are found in job fields such as Speech and Language, writing, drama, debate and advertising. For linguistic learners, language is the tool they use to help themselves learn, just as tactile learner uses a hands on approach to aid in their learning. http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/resourcesresearch/qt/visual_learner.htm http://snjones.myweb.uga.edu/page2.htm