Teacher as a counselor

The Role Of Counseling In Second Language Acquisition

Dr. S. Sridevi
CTTE College

I. INTRODUCTION

Language deals a lot with emotions and thoughts is the assumption this paper makes. Effective way of learning a language would be to think and feel in the language with the already existing vocabulary one would have acquired. A counselor can build the confidence of the student by explaining how all languages are the same and if a student can acquire one language he can easily acquire another language too. This paper analyses these issues giving the example of two case studies and gives suggestions.

When we try to learn a language like English that holds an elite position in India there are lots of emotional issues that a teacher might overlook. The student needs constant support and guidance. The curriculum does not accept this factor as it treats every learner in the same fashion. The method that might work for a regional language may not work for a language from abroad. When this foreign language holds high respect in society the stress is high on the learner that might stop him from learning it well. The learner will also have cultural conflicts in him that will make him question the need to learn a foreign language.

Counseling can fill this gap in society where the learner and the curriculum do not meet. Many students 'reject' English for various reasons without being aware of it and blame themselves for it. They think they are 'stupid'. Counseling can explain the conflicts and stress in the student's mind regarding English and help him tackle them better facilitating learning English in a more effective manner.

II. CONCEPTS FOR COUNSELLING SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS

1. English is just another language

We have to change our attitude to English if we want learn it on our own. When we attach too much of importance to English, we might become nervous and will never acquire the coolness and detachment to learn it well. We have to start thinking that English is just another language. We have to learn it as we learn our Indian languages.

2. Every region will have its accent

Indian English is Indian accented. Similarly the Chennai English will have the Tamil accent and so on. Accent is inevitable when we speak any language. When we speak a foreign language our native accent will influence the foreign sounds. Even the 'correct' English we speak will be Indian English only. Scholars like Braj Kachru, R.L. Varshney, Peter Trudgill and Jean Hannah have extensively researched and written about the features of Indian English that is considered standard in India. Indian English has different phonetic qualities. All native languages of India lack voiced post alveolar fricative. Indian languages do not differentiate between /v/ and /w/. Consonants are distinctly doubled in India. We must accept that only to a certain extent we can acquire the 'correct' accent of the westerners. What is important is clarity. Also if the learner is put in an embarrassing situation and is made fun of his 'accent', he should know that accent is natural for every one. This will make him not lose his self-confidence.

3. Language has to be created

Language learning is a creative process that needs thoughts. If it had been a scientific process by this time computers would have begun to be in charge of writing in newspapers and novels for publishers. It needs other abilities like intuition, inspiration, creativity, and imagination and is different from by hearting formulae and rules. A scientific approach to language learning will not make one proficient in the target language. Every new sentence has to be invented like a great scientific discovery.

4. Mental blocks about language have to be unlearnt

If we have acquired any mental blocks about English during our childhood or because of ideological issues we will not be able to learn it well. These mental or emotional blocks can exist without the person being aware of it. Before any language learning takes place, the counsellor has to find out if there are any mental blocks as such. If so they have to be removed. This will facilitate better learning possible.

5. Become a multilingual

Our linguistic experiences are very different and multiple. This is a challenge put across the Indians and our survival instinct has already given us this ability. We can tackle many languages. To live in a global scenario, we must encourage our minds to consider ourselves as multilingual. English thus becomes one more language that has to be learnt. This kind of thinking will take away our self-consciousness in practicing English with our friends.

6. Think in English

The learner has to be encouraged to think and feel in English with the limited vocabulary he might have acquired already. He can start with praying in English. English has to enter his inner most recesses of mind and become strongly established like his mother tongue. He can pass remarks and comments in his mind in English. This is the mental foundation from which fluent speech will spring.

III. COUNSELLING STRATEGIES
The counsellor can encourage the learner to think in English and encourage a positive attitude in the mind of the learner. The following factors have to be emphasized about English:
1. It is a link language in India.2. It is a language of higher studies.3. It is an international language for global communication.4. It is a language of convenience at work place.
5. It is just another language that can be learnt easily.
IV. SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE ENGLISH
1. English is not a syllable-timed language like most of the Indian languages and is a stress-timed language. Efforts have to be made to acquire skills to put the stress accents at the right syllables.
2. Efforts must be taken in vocabulary development, spelling, and nuances of grammar, pronunciation etc.
3. The students can be asked to read books, magazines and newspapers in English as only reading will teach the usage of words. Reading storybooks regularly also will help them enjoy the process of learning. They can practice speaking English in formal and informal settings. If necessary, they can attend spoken English classes and take some accent training programmes.

IV. CONCLUSION

Training to think and feel in English can be given to ambitious learners who have acquired mental blocks. They should also be trained to treat English as just another language. This will help Indians working at a global level and keep their self-esteem high.


Case studies

1. This person is a high achiever in Tamil. She is a great public speaker and very well known. She can speak a few Indian languages very well and is highly read and knowledgeable. She has gone abroad a few times. Whenever she went abroad she was able to speak in English fluently. She was able to 'read' English contents with ease. When she was back in India she was not able to speak and read with ease. She became shy and self-conscious. Counselling was given about the 'issues' in English. She was encouraged to treat English like any other language. Also it was found out she felt speaking in English in India meant she was being disloyal to Tamil. It was explained that it is not so. Serious discussions about the nature of languages were given. She was encouraged to approach languages in a scientific manner. Within six months the change came over. She was able to converse normally in English and has started reading English books.

2. This person was a high performer in many subjects except in spoken English. She wanted to speak English but was not able to do so. She was scared of making mistakes. She felt her classmates would laugh at her. She was not ashamed of making a mistake in Tamil, for instance. She thought mistakes in Tamil while speaking it, could be carried off with confidence, as that is a sign of one's non-familiarity with the language and proved familiarity with English. Only people who spoke English very well did not speak Tamil well. She was counselled about the importance of one's mother tongue. Only if we respect our languages we can be comfortable with other languages. She was encouraged to take away the extra importance given by her to English. And then she started responding to English and has become a good speaker and reads a lot of books in English now






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