Why Language Arts?

1. Why Language Arts? And why this hideous green? (There’s no reason for the green, but why you need Language Arts is just a slide away!)

2. Communication…duh! • You communicate all the time – but how well do you communicate? Communicating well or poorly can mean the difference between getting a job or not (money), passing a class or flunking out (grades), getting a date or being avoided like the plague (affection…even the physical kind!), and more!

3. Language is Not a Subject • It’s actually a symbol system. • That means that everything is the subject content of language because everything is symbolized through language. • Do you know what some of these symbols mean?

4. The 4 Language Arts are… • Speaking • Listening • Reading • Writing Two of these arts are “receptive” – reading and listening – while two arts are “productive” – speaking and writing.

5. The Receptive Arts: “Reading” • Perhaps the art most connected with the term “language arts,” reading is how we receive information through picture symbol systems. • We interpret the symbols before us and make meaning from them. Hopefully we understand what the author intended us to understand. • Sometimes we understand more and sometimes less than the author intended. What does the last sentence mean?

6. The Receptive Arts: Listening • Listening is how we interpret spoken language. The most important key is concentrating on what is being said. • Some tips: • Also look for nonverbal cues. • Listen for key words • Associate what’s being said with prior knowledge • Seek clarification by asking questions.

7. The Productive Arts: “Speaking” • Speaking is the composition of oral language. It usually occurs nearlyinstantaneously. To compose spoken language successfully it is important to remember what language is – connections between ideas and symbols. • Language essentially is about connections. Focus on helping your listeners connect ideas in their minds when you speak. Connect your first idea with the second idea and so on, hopefully leading to a point.

8. The Productive Arts: “Writing” • Writing is complicated. It involves both “composition” and “transcription.” • “Composition” is the act of directing meaning using symbols. • “Transcription” is the act of writing down a composition.

9. Writing Continued • Writing as a process is “recursive.” Recursive literally means writing over again. Though most students don’t like writing multiple drafts, this actually means that you can correct mistakes and make your writing better. That’s why writing is great!

10. A Matter of Meaning • So…producing and interpreting meaning is what language arts is all about. We decide collectively what things (words) mean. Words and languages are changing all the time. For example “awful” once meant "full of awe“ as in “wonderful.” Now it’s usually synonymous with “terrible.” Can you think of any other words that have changed meaning? If not, there are some more on the next slide.

11. What they used to mean: • Desire:to study the stars carefully. • Doom: a statute or law, judgment or decree. • Grin: scowl or show teeth signifying anger. • Guess: take aim, as with a weapon. • Idiot: a layman as opposed to a clergyman. • Knight: a boy or a servant • Left: weak

12. Making Meaning • This year in language arts, you’ll have an opportunity to practice all four of the arts, deciding and making meaning. • I hope that makes you as excited about language arts class as I am!