Reflective Journal Task 1.

1.The teaching of English as a Foreign Language is increasing across the

world.

2. Latin is the most widely studied language five hundred years ago.

3. The most widely studied language today is English.

4. English comes from the Indo-European family of languages.

5. The family of languages that English, German, Dutch, Swedish, and

Danish belong to the Indo-European family of languages.

6.English is an official or semi-official language in 60 countries.

7.Several words have indeed changed in meaning over the years.

Reflective Learning Journal Task 1.2

The first foreign language that I learned was Chinese. I had difficulties
learning Chinese because my mother didn't know it. My father also didn't
see a lot of Chinese, so I was typically raised in a Western Chinese
family.

The teacher used the grammar-translation method to teach me Chinese.

This method was taught, and I had to memorize grammatical rules. I had
to learn conjugations and sentences, and I had to use the dictionary all the
time.

I had another problem because my classmates laughed at me for being

Chinese, but I had so much difficulty learning Chinese. The teacher
presented a lot of grammatical rules when teaching me Chinese.

As I progressed in middle school, I switched Chinese teachers, and the

teacher noticed something was wrong. The new teacher started teaching
the audio-lingual method.

I started learning Chinese, like learning a language, as a set of behavioral

patterns reinforced by creating the correct response. The teacher made me
create oral responses emphasizing speaking and listening, and very soon,
I could communicate with my peers fluently. I was very grateful that my
new teacher helped me learn Chinese using a different method.

Unfortunately, implementing both methods simultaneously required some

effort, so I started neglecting my other subjects to learn Chinese. I had to
start making friends with other classmates so I could practice learning
Chinese the right way. Since most of them did not like me because I was
brought up in a Western family, I faced many issues making new friends.

The teacher noticed, so the teacher reached out and introduced me to

other kids who did not know me so I could make new friends and practice
Chinese properly. As my Chinese improved, my social network expanded
as well. I was able to make friends naturally as my Chinese improved.

The teacher continued to teach using the audio-lingual method, and I

noticed that the traditional Chinese students differed significantly from
those in the Western Chinese family. I was able to get a few friends, but
not many.

I kept writing essays so my Chinese would improve, but writing essays

and reading newspapers all the time would not be the only solution to my
difficulties in learning Chinese. I needed to communicate properly in
Chinese, which wasn't that simple.

However, my teacher taught me Chinese. My grandfather, a Chinese, also

started helping me learn and taught me Chinese calligraphy, and he also
taught me Chinese traditions.

My grandfather said that Chinese was a culture, not just a language.

Allowing me to appreciate Chinese for what it is let me master Chinese as
a foreign language. China has a long history, and I had to learn about
Chinese history to properly understand why learning Chinese was so
important, even though it was a foreign language.

In the end, by implementing both the grammar-translation method and the

audio-lingual method that both teachers have taught me, I have managed
to master Chinese as a foreign language. It is not an easy journey, and I
hope others can master foreign languages when I share this story as well.
Reflective Learning Journal Task 1.3

The audio-lingual method had its origins in the Second World War.

Steven Krashen, a Linguistics specialist, developed the 'Natural

Approach' methodology.

The humanistic approach methodology is holistic in its approach.

Section A

Q1.1

English is a native language in Australia, New Zealand, the United

Kingdom, and the United States. (Jones, 2021). The countries where
people practice English as a native language are called the Anglosphere.
People speaking English in these territories are called the Anglophones.
There are different countries where English has legal status as the
primary language. These countries are in Europe, USA and Asia.

One of the main features of these countries is that many people use
English for communication. Moreover, there are also different variations,
dialects, and other Creole languages based on English. These languages
are based in various regions. (Fabling and Fabling, 2023)

Likewise, English is legal as a secondary language in the Netherlands,

Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Austria,
Germany, and Poland.

As for Asia, English is legal as a secondary language in Singapore,

Malaysia, the Philippines, India, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Apart
from Asia, English is a secondary language in Latin America, Argentina,
Brazil, and Mexico. As for the Middle East & North America, English is
a secondary language in Egypt and Morocco.

Regions and international bodies in which English is upheld as a

recognized language are the International Criminal Court, the
Commonwealth, the Union of South American Nations, the Caribbean
community, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union,
the United Nations, and the European Union.

Different organizations refer to English as a recognized " working

language." There isn't a big difference here; it's just that there is a
difference between the official and working language in that organization.
Q1.2

Economic Importance

Global Business Language

English is the primary international language for businessmen. There are

a vast number of large businesses that use English as their primary
language for making trades, negotiating business deals, and doing
paperwork.

Trade and Investment

Countries that integrate English into their systems as a second language

will increase their trade and foreign investment. English enhances
communication with business partners.

Employment Growth

Individuals who are proficient in English get better job opportunities

because many bosses look for workers who can speak English well. Work
fields like finance and technology need people who are good at English.

Social Importance

Education and Sharing Information

Many academic institutions and reputable publications use English as a

primary language. Therefore, most of the students need to learn English
to communicate with other people on a global scale.

Social Mobility

In different countries, being proficient in English means being connected

to a higher status and better social mobility, thus opening more doors that
will grant you better job opportunities and higher education.
Cultural Exchange
Many people across the globe understand English. English allows people
to communicate effectively and exchange ideas and cultural practices
through large populations, creating better understanding among people
and allowing them to collaborate better.

Cultural Importance

Media and Entertainment

English is the primary language in global media, including movies,

literature, and online content. It has a significant influence that reshapes
cultural norms across the globe.

English Literature

If someone learns English literature, whether a worker or a business

owner, the learner can gain insights from works of different cultures,
which will help people worldwide exchange their ideas and experiences
using literature to break cultural boundaries.

Social Movements

English is another type of tool that people use for social movements,
letting activists to reach a bigger audience and get international support
for their business objectives.
Section A Ques 1.3

English is An International Language

While English is not the most popular language, it is official in more than
50 countries, and many people worldwide practice English as an official
language. English is a secondary language across the globe.

It does not matter if you wish to advance in technology, science,

literature, or significance in English. As you can see, it does not matter
where you go and what you do; you will know you must learn English
correctly.

Technology Language

When America expanded globally, music and entertainment became

popular, so they started to invent websites. Thus, English has become a
prominent language and a secondary language online. In the end, the
hardware for most of the technology utilizes the English language and the
Latin language for the keyboard. Scientists also use English to do their
work and research because their workers from different countries can
view the best data and share their working experiences.

English Is A Great Travel Language

As mentioned, English is practiced as the primary language in 53

countries and a second language in 118 countries. If you can master
English, you can travel everywhere easily. Indeed, when you are
navigating in the airport and reading street signs, it is easier if you can
read street signs. If you don't master the language, you will face a
problem. On the other hand, if you do, you will find someone who can
understand a bit.
Q1.4

English comes from an Indo-European group of languages related to

other languages used in Europe and Western Asia. The primary language,
proto-Indo-European, was used 5000 years ago by groups of nomads
living in European plains. (Potter and Crystal, 2004)
The English language goes back to its origins back to Neothilic people
that we now call Indo-Europeans as proto-Indo-Europeans. (Barker,
2024)

Researchers from New Zealand used methods to study virus-related

epidemics to create a whole set of family generations related to ancient
Indo-European languages to see where the language was first born.

A language family is a language compiled together from the same

ancestor, who they call the proto-language. Linguists state these groups'
languages are integrated into modern language with words that sound the
same. One example is water (German), which is linked to water. These
similar words will show everyone the origins of the Indo-European
language.

The Indo-European family comes from one of the most prominent

families of more than 400 languages in approximately 60 countries;
further research is unclear. (Ball, 2012)

Although language kept evolving, linguists have disputed that various

terms describe the basics of life-kinship, which means (mother or father)

English comes from this Germanic language family and is subdivided

into different languages that most people use as an official language in
Europe and Asia.
Q1.5

The most popular language across the globe is English. Roughly 1.5
billion people practice this language. People who know this language
well will understand that this language is different when you compare it
to 700 years ago.

English has started to evolve and has changed as time passes, but through
the speech of language and historical texts, language experts can trace the
language to its primary source.

What does this have to do with categorising English as a Romance

language? Truth is everything. By tracking down the evolution and the
correct origins of English, you can determine which languages are the
relatives of this language, like Romance languages.

In today's guide, you will understand what a language family is, which
languages you learnt are Romance languages, and why English is always
confused as a Romance language.

The connection's roots trace back to the Normans' conquest to rule

England a thousand years ago. The Normans spoke Old French, and the
combination of Norman French and Old English turned into Middle
English, reflecting in a language of Germanic and Romance languages,
which turned into today's English language.

Every language in the Romance language comes with different cognates

that are perfect. There are a few similarities between these other dialects.
English is strongly affected by the Romance language, so speakers have
started to adopt a few hundred words for daily usage.

In conclusion, English is a Germanic Language, and many people

practice both languages hand in hand.
Q1.6

The foreign language that I learned was Chinese. Despite being Asian,
my parents spoke English at home, making Chinese the first foreign
language I mastered. My parents noticed that English was an important
language, and they ensured I learned it properly.

I used grammar translation method and the audiolingual method when I

tried to master Chinese. Using only grammar and no exposure to oral and
speech tactics made this method very tiring, and soon mastering Chinese
became rather difficult.

The method was tiring, and my other subjects suffered because of this. I
still could not communicate properly with the other classmates because I
was from a Western family, and my classmates rejected me for not being
able to speak Chinese properly. It added to an extra layer of insecurity,
and I forced myself to master Chinese even harder. Speaking and
listening was my weak point, but I would not give up.

Everything changed when the teachers were swapped in middle school,

and I got a new Chinese teacher. The teacher noticed the issue in my
approach to learning Chinese and introduced me to the audio-lingual
method, which differed from the grammar-translation method I
previously used. Instead of forcing myself to go through grammar rules, I
started speaking and listening to Chinese properly, developing proper oral
skills, and mastering Chinese.

The new approach created a significant change for me. I started to see this
language not as a new language I had to master but as another language I
used to communicate with the people around me. There was a strong
emphasis on listening and speaking to others properly, and soon, I could
make new friends. I am very grateful that my teacher saved my life and
gave me new ways to practice my Chinese properly and communicate
with my classmates at a Chinese school.
Q1.7
Behaviourism
Behaviorism is a good approach, where learners are passive and react to
external environment factors. Implementing the behavioural learning
teaching method has different benefits. This method encourages good
behaviours, creating a good, positive learning environment. Teachers
apply positive reinforcement as one of the teaching strategies. Positive
reinforcement is giving rewards to promote good behaviours.

Benefits of Using Behaviourism:

Practical Evidence

One of the biggest strengths of behaviourism is that it relies on different

measurable changes in behaviour. It makes obtaining and analyzing data
more effortless for people conducting research, leading to practical
evidence supporting accurate conclusions.

Precision
It is one of the most significant benefits of behaviourism, which lets
researchers properly observe, record, and adequately measure the
subject's behaviour. It also focuses on specific behaviours for better
accuracy rather than using different approaches considering other mental
processes. Researchers utilize this information to get a proper insight into
human behaviour and see the various methods they can use to improve it.

More Predictability
Behaviorism lets researchers make correct predictions on how individuals
react to different stimuli. As behaviourism states, the external
environment may affect the person's behaviour. So, if the person
produces the same stimuli all the time, you can predict the same response
from the person all the time.

Disadvantages of Behaviourism
People complain about the drawbacks of the behaviourism theory, which
include:

Ignoring Mental Processes

The behaviourism method does not focus on the mental processes,
including thoughts, emotions, and the learner's feelings. Based on
behaviourism, these processes are irrelevant, with different factors that
matter on what can be seen on the surface.

No Sense of Individuality
This method relies on generalizations. The technique does not consider
the person’s unique features, which affects how they respond to
encouragement or punishment.

Moral Concerns or the Setbacks of Behaviourism

Behaviourism receives terrible reviews for its being similar to using
animal experimentation, which creates ethical issues. A heavy reliance on
doing the proper reinforcement and punishing students might not be
moral in specific ways.
Audiolingualism
Audiolingualism is a type of teaching language method that emphasizes
grammar and vocabulary made specifically for speaking and listening. It
is also partly based on behaviourism, which relies on the formation for a
learning basis, although the learner has to keep repeating.

Advantages of Using Audiolingualism

Based on Behaviourist Psychology

Audiolingualism is founded on behavioural principles, emphasizing the
importance of forming proper learning habits and repetitively learning a
new language.

Encourages the Usage and Speech of Foreign Language

Students are encouraged to use and practice the language regularly,
making their communication skills more fluent.

Setting the Teacher as A Role Model

Teachers set a role model to adjust the pronunciation, stress, and
intonation. It lets students directly learn from the teacher.
Making Pronunciation More Effective
This methodology mainly focuses on pronunciation, making it more
effective for teaching English more accurately.

Easier to Teach in Larger Groups

This methodology emphasizes exercises and drills, making teaching in
large classes more suitable.

Disadvantages
No Room For Mistakes
This method focuses on correct pronunciation and grammar, not letting
the learner make more mistakes, creating a stressful learning
environment.

Mechanical Learning
This learning methodology relies on drills with repetition, creating stiff
and mechanical learning rather than the learner understanding the proper
language structure and other functions.

Not Enough Exposure to Language

Audiolingualism emphasizes isolating language forms and drills that limit
the student's exposure to the proper use of language and other cultural
contexts.
Neglect Writing & Reading Techniques
This method focuses on speaking and listening, thus neglecting the
reading and writing skills, striking an imbalance in proficient language
learning.

Limited Choices for Self-Reflection

Audiolingualism emphasizes learning & drills, cutting down
opportunities for students to reflect on the meaning and usage of the
language.

The Natural Way

Stephen Krashen supports theStephen Krashen supports the natural
approach. It is a language teaching methodology that explains how
humans acquire their mother tongue. The approach is a communicative
method of teaching language, rejected by the audiolingual method.
Krashen and Terell view this method as a primary language function and
focus on teaching English incommunicatively rather than language
structures.

Benefits of the Natural Approach

This teaching methodology has a lot of benefits for people learning
languages.

Focusing on Communication
The natural approach also makes sure that there is more communication
over accuracy. Focusing on communication also encourages learners to
utilize language in a relevant and helpful manner. Implementing this
learning methodology increases motivation and engagement.
Less Anxiety
Using this method, the teacher can reduce anxiety in the new learners. By
concentrating on understanding and the communication process rather
than fixing the grammar to make it perfect, the learner will have less
pressure to stay perfect. It creates a more peaceful environment.

Better Pronunciation
This studying approach emphasizes a lot on the pronunciation. By using
their ears to listen, learners get better accents and pronunciation.

Disadvantages of the Natural Way

There is insufficient emphasis on grammar, which is crucial for specific
languages.
Learners lose their motivation and focus without a better approach.
Getting enough practice speaking and getting feedback without any
instructor is challenging.

Humanistic Approach
The humanistic approach is a study of personality based on the
individual's subjective approach.
Benefits of the Humanistic Approach
Main Focus of Individual Behaviour
Instead of trying to focus on everyone's behaviour and genes. When you
use the humanistic approach, the teacher focuses on the learner.

Satisfies Everyone’s Point of View

The humanistic approach emphasizes personal views and also self-
fulfilment. Thus, it also satisfies the aspect of how people feel about
humanity. It focuses on others' positive nature and their free will that they
can change.

More Behavioural Insights

It is easier to get better insight and more information because you might
not be able to get qualitative data related to the subject's behaviour.

Specific Methods of Study

It will highlight different vital aspects of better individualistic methods of
learning. Humanism might not help you in other job professions,
including history and criminology, because being humanistic is a basis
where the teaching method is regarded as human.

Specialized Counseling
Self-centred counselling lets clients feel more comfortable when the
learner communicates with their counsellors. Thus, their clients are just
like their equals.
Disadvantages of the Humanistic Approach

Creating More Frustration Among Learners

Letting learners figure out the correct answer for themselves might be
somewhat confusing if they cannot do so. Likewise, the learners might
feel frustrated because they are not given the correct explanations for
their problems.

Does Not Support the Deterministic Laws of Science

The humanistic approach will support free will, which elements do not
align with deterministic laws. Thus, determinism states that only one
result type may contradict free will.

Ethnocentric

The whole approach is biased and focuses on Western culture. Due to

this, the approach will influence people with diverse cultures to adopt and
follow if it contradicts the rules of this approach.

Experience is Required

The teacher must be capable of using the humanistic approach. This is

because, in a humanist classroom, the teacher has to train their
expressions on how they feel, which conventional training does not
emphasize.
Learning Styles Problems

Every student has unique learning methods that the humanities have to
adopt for every student. It is a teaching style related to psychology. This
style has a bigger view of human behaviour.