Speculations on Foreign Language Learning-Teaching
Yabancı Dil Öğrenimi-Öğretimi Üzerine Spekülasyonlar

Author : Yusuf ŞAHİN
Number of pages : 429-437

Abstract

The increase of individual and social mobility and the necessity of international cooperation in every field have led to the interest and necessity of foreign language becoming an obligation. While new methods and techniques search for foreign language learning and teaching, use of information obtained as a result of scientific studies in language learning and teaching, and efforts to save time and labor are seen as positive developments, unimaginable assertions about foreign language learning-teaching such as “Ten minutes in English, interaction in three minutes, foreign language in one week, foreign language in twelve days, foreign language in a month, robot teaching a foreign language, free second language for a language learner” are seen as misleading directions when evaluated in the context of learning and teaching theories. People and institutions who claim that a foreign language can be learned in a very short time and without too much effort are referencing individuals with confusion about foreign language learning. This situation makes it debatable for organizations and institutions that provide serious training in the field of foreign language. Beyond this, allegations that lack such scientific basis can lead to loss of motivation and frustration in individuals in achieving the goals that require a certain amount of time and effort, such as learning a foreign language. Individuals who have begun to learn languages with great enthusiasm, who have given too much effort for a certain period of time and who cannot yet speak a foreign language fluently seem to have first started to search for the problem in themselves (I cannot learn a foreign language) then in people and institutions providing education (They cannot teach a foreign language) or teaching materials (These books are not good enough). It is observed that learning a foreign language is a process that requires labor and time beyond memorizing language rules. In order for language teaching to be a language teaching method, it must have linguistic and pedagogical support and definition. The presentation of a technique used in language teaching, memory techniques, and technology-supported language teaching as a language teaching method constitutes clear examples of how much the subject is simplified. The aim of this research is to inform foreign language learners about the speculative advertising in the media about language learning and to make them aware of the teaching and validity of the goods and services offered for monetary gain. Survey method was used in the research. The data of the research constitutes of the accessible advertisements in the press-related organs related to the teaching of foreign languages and the claims of people and institutions offering foreign language courses. The accuracy, learning and instructional level of such advertisements in the media are discussed in the light of the arguments put forward in each advertisement. The extent to which basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are involved, the time foreseen for them, and the likelihood that an individual will acquire these skills in the foreseeable period are compared with the time spent preparing for language exams with international validity such as TOEFL, Test DAF, DELE, and DALF. Suggested methods and techniques, tools and materials used, examples of language learning and processing, examples of language use have been discussed and resolved with an interdisciplinary approach. The obtained data were assessed on the basis of pedagogy, neuro-linguistics, socio-linguistics and CEF (Common European Framework) and tried to reach a judgment in scientific light. Language learning-teaching is a process in which the boundaries cannot be drawn in time, whether it is a mother tongue or a foreign language. Given the extent to which the linguistic communication environments and conditions that an individual may encounter can be diversified, it is understood that this process is not merely the domination of limited verbal existence, pattern expressions and language rules. Learning a foreign language and using it in any kind of communication environment should be named differently in a certain situation.

Keywords

Foreign Language Teaching, Foreign Language Teaching Method, Foreign Language Teaching-Learning Term, Speculation in Foreign Language Teaching, Technology-Assisted Foreign Language Teaching.

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