2. What is language?
• Language is a code system used to represent concepts
• Words are the symbols for the code
• Each language has rules of how words can be combined
We cannot say: Teacher a Mary is
• Language is used to communicate through speech, writing and
reading.
• Language does not exist in a vacuum – it is a social tool to
communicate our ideas. Without language we cannot think.
3. Rules of language
• Phonological rules – to combine individual sounds into words for
example – ph – sound ? Df ? Fz?
• Morphological rules – the smallest unit of a word is called a
morpheme for example ‘happy’ – unhappy, happily
• Syntax rules – Rules that tell us the word order in a sentence
• Semantic rules – the meaning of words
4. Academic language/ Language proficiency
• The difference between formal and informal learning
• Social language VS academic language
• There is a difference between communicative fluency and academic
fluency
What is it called?
Jim Cummings (1979)
5. Language proficiency for bilingual children
• BICS – Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
Social in nature/ informal learning
• CALP – Cognitive academic language proficiency
Formal learning
Jim Cummings (1979) developed these concepts to describe the
difference between conversational fluency and academic language
fluency.
6. Note: It is not an approach for second
language learning.
• It is framework to describe how and when people learn second language -
developed by Jim Cummings (1979)
Six Core Academic language skills
• Organising text - from story telling to writing
• Connecting ideas – with words or phrases – but, yet, also
• Tracking themes – John is a fast runner/ He can….
• Understanding complex sentences – The dog sit/ The ugly big dog sits
• Analysing words – unhappy = un + happy
• Can produce complex sentences – from choosing a sentence to writing a
sentence.
7.
8.
9. 2. Describe the difference between social and academic language and
give examples.
3. Define BICS and CALP
4. Describe the process of learning to read
5. Describe the 6 core academic skills.
6. Conclusion
10. Writing guide
• All papers must be typed in Arial – size 12
• Text must be justified.
• Flow – see that your paper is easy to read
• End your paper with References.
