Revisiting the Role of Language Teachers’ Metalinguistic Knowledge in Classroom
Subject Areas : Journal of Teaching English Language Studies
Azam Pourmohammadi Kharrati
1
,
firooz sadighi
2
,
Mohhamadjavad Riasati
3
1 - Department of English Language,Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
2 - Department of English, Language, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
3 - Department of English Language, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Keywords: Teacher language awareness, Metalinguistic knowledge, Explicit knowledge, EFL teacher development,
Abstract :
One area that has not gotten much attention in the professional literature on teaching second languages is the function of teacher metalinguistic knowledge in the classroom. Because it has historically been associated with formal grammar teaching, metalinguistic knowledge has been disregarded or even abandoned as an essential part of pedagogical practice in many L2 classrooms. Nonetheless, new studies have shown how important it is to give form and meaning equal weight when teaching languages. This essay reviews studies on the value of teachers’ metalinguistic knowledge and how it relates to learners' improvement of language comprehension and proficiency. It also takes into account a number of potential benefits of possessing and using metalinguistic knowledge in L2 teaching especially teaching grammar in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. It is concluded based on this discussion that teachers' metalinguistic knowledge deserves a place in L2 classrooms. The study offers some implications for teachers and teacher educators, too.
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