Approaches to Learner ’ s Performance

1. Lecture 7 Approaches to Learner’s Performance Hind Al-Beladi

2. Three approaches focused attention to learners’ performances (Linguistic behavior): 2. Error analysis 1. Contrastive Analysis 3. Interlanguage Hind Al-Beladi

3. 2 ERROR ANALYSIS Hind Al-Beladi

4. ERROR ANALYSIS • A technique which aims to describe and explain the systematic nature of deviations or errors generated in the learner’s language. Hind Al-Beladi

5. Why do we need EA? Not ALL errors can be attributed to negative transfer/interference from the L1!!! This is the boys we meeted yesterday Hind Al-Beladi

6. Importance of EA? • It may play a role in understanding the processes that underlie L2 learning. • It statistically figures out the troublesome linguistic areas on errors that L2 learners encounter in learning. • Errors provide valuable feedback to both teachers and learners regarding learner’s strategies and progress. • Errors provide researchers with insights into the nature of the L2 learning process itself. Hind Al-Beladi

7. EA and CA Differences 1- EA is not restricted to errors caused by negative transfer from the L1; it brings to light many errors frequently committed by learners, such as : overgeneralization errors. For example: Foreign English learners overgeneralize the rule of plural morpheme ‘-s’ to childs, instead of the correct form ‘children’. 2- EA provides data on real problems and this may lead to correct solutions in the L2 teaching. 3- EA is not confronted with problems such as accurate and explicit descriptions of languages, compatibility, adequate knowledge of the contrasted languages, etc. that CA may face. Hind Al-Beladi

8. EA Methodology 1- Collection of errors: by using free compositions of learners around a theme or from their answers to examinations, or certain designed tests. 2. Identification of errors 3- Classification of errors types Hind Al-Beladi

9. EA Methodology 4- Statement of relative frequency of error types. 5- Identification of the areas of difficulty in the L2. 6- Determination of the source of errors such as L1 transfer, overgeneralization, inconsistencies in the spelling system of the L2. 7- Determination of the seriousness of the error in terms of communication and L2. 8- Remedy by the teacher in the classroom by designing special drills, lessons, etc. Hind Al-Beladi

10. Classification of Errors Errors of competence Errors of performance Application of L2 rules which do not correspond to L2 norms. They are called errors. They take time to be corrected. They are rightly called mistakes. They are recognized by speakers and corrected easily. Phonological Phonological False starts INTERLINGUAL INTRALINGUAL Syntactic Syntactic Repeats Transfer errors. Errors due to the effect of L1. Overgeneralization errors. Errors due to the effect of L2. Corrections Semantic Semantic Slips of the tongue. Hind Al-Beladi

11. References Hind Al-Beladi Cook, G. (2003). Applied linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Noor, H. & Al-Qadi, N. (2003). A course in applied linguistics for EFL/ ESL Arab students. AlmadinahAlmunawwarah: Dar Al-Iman. R. B. Kaplan (Ed.) (2002), The oxford handbook of applied linguistics New York: Oxford University Press.