Whole Language Approach

Whole Language Approach

1. Focused in teaching (reading & writing) in the native language

   • literacy

2. Characteristics

   • Language is taught as a "whole"
   • Choice is vital in a whole language class
   • Is authentic, personalized, self-directed, collaborative & pluralistic
   • Is based in Constructivist theory in which knowledge is socially constructed.
   • Emphasized in read and write naturally and for pleasure

3. Strengths

   • has a social view of language in which there is an interactional relationship between readers & writers
   • Use thinking for internal "interaction", in order to mutter to ourselves in silence.
   • The teacher creates a collaborative climate
   • Students select learning material/activities, also produce them.
   • Use real-world materials like: newspapers, signs, handbills, storybooks & printed.

4. Weaknesses

   • Skill development will follow without special attention
   • Is seen as anti-direct teaching, anti-skills & anti-materials
   • Isn't a teaching method
   • Many activities are also common in other instructional approaches
     • Communicative Language Teaching, Content-based Teaching, Task - based Language Teaching
       • The only feature is the focus on literature

5. Abilities focus

   • Reading
     • Use authentic literature for reading real text of high interest & sake of comprehension for a real purpose
       • Reading & writing in partnership with other learners
   • Writing
     • Written stories about real & natural events, in which writing for a real audience not only to practice writing skills
       • Students choice what read and write, giving them power and understanding of their world

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