Chris Brandon

Difference between formal and non-formal language Formal language is English language that is formal in nature, ie it is grammatically correct, clearly spoken and polite. It is used when the listener or reader is an important person or if the subject matter is of an important nature. An example of formal english can be found in a courtroom, a news broadcast or on a legal document. Informal language, on the other hand is not necessarily formal or clearly spoken and is used when the listener or reader is a person with whom the speaker or writer is familiar, such as a friend or family member.(1) According to Dean Noble(2), formal language tends to be used in certain social settings. A scene such as a birthday party or a business conference. The social setting has a bearing on the level of...  [Read more]

Should Students Be Allowed to Use Their Native Language in the Classroom When I first began teaching lessons during the TESOL Course I found myself almost automatically saying to the students, “English please,” after all it is an English class. However, I began to question myself about whether or not this was “correct” practice or if the students should in fact use their native language to assist them in the learning process. After doing some research I found the TESOL Law Code of Ethics. The Law of Ethics provided many vague and open-ended ideas. It suggested things along the lines of, “The foreign language teacher shall direct her whole professional effort to assist the students to develop his/her second language speaking ability.” It also mentions that TESOL teachers are to...  [Read more]