A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

mistakes. Responses of individual children suggest the desirability of a
'balanced' approach which also includes aspects of reading and writing.

5.11.6 Listening, Reading and Writing in French

Unsurprisingly perhaps, children both liked and disliked the tape recorder.
A number of children said that they found listening to the tape recorder 'easy'
and one boy said he liked the tape because of the 'music' on it Some,
however, said they found listening to the tape recorder quite difficult and one girl
commented on the tape 'going on and on' and how she 'could not make out
what they were saying'.

These comments are somehow in contrast to findings from the Pilot Scheme
where it was claimed that all children regardless of ability disliked the tape
recorder. However, 'liking' or 'disliking' the tape recorder could well be a
reflection of the type of activities that accompany listening. In the Pilot Scheme
the tape recorder spelt 'boredom' and 'enforced passivity¹ whereas in School
One listening to the tape recorder was usually associated with a worksheet. It
would also seem important to note that individual children's comments were
perhaps based on specific instances of listen ng they remembered. Classroom
observations suggested, for example, that on a number of occasions some
children found listening activities difficult although language material generally
reflected what had been taught. As in most other contexts, a closer
examination of what exactly it is that a child finds difficult would seem necessary
if one is to help that child in coming to terms with learning a foreign language.

306

<<   303   304   305   306   307   308   309   >>

More intriguing information