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Notional-Functional Approach Lesson

A theory of English teaching

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98 views3 pages

Notional-Functional Approach Lesson

A theory of English teaching

Uploaded by

jpaucarl.23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Notional-Functional Approach

What is the notional-functional approach?

The notional-functional approach in ESL is a way of structuring a syllabus around “notions,”


real-life situations in which people communicate, which are further broken down into
“functions,” specific aims of communication.

Which is the best definition of a Notional Functional Syllabus?


A notional-functional syllabus is an approach where the organization of the material is determined
with notions or ideas that learners expect to be able to express through the target language and
the functions acts learners expect to be able to accomplish (Wilkins, 1976).

What are main elements of notional-functional syllabus?


The notional-functional syllabus concerns two important elements: one is a notional or
conceptual view, which is involved with some concepts such as time, space, movement, cause
and effect; another one is functional view which is used for intentional or purposive description
and classification.

In a notional-functional program, teaching is based in terms of notions and functions.


Notion: context in which people communicate.
Function: specific intention of the speaker in a given context.
The various combinations between functions and notions give rise to a series of linguistic
exponents, and these constitute the list of expressions that students must be able to use properly
to make their communicative intentions effective.

This model sets its goals in terms of observable behavior. Which is described as a certain level
of communicative competence. In the words of D. Hymes, communicative competence is related
to knowing “when to talk, when not, and what to talk about, with whom, where, in what
way”; that is, it is about the ability to form sentences that are not only grammatically correct but
also socially appropriate. Notional functional approach

The teacher’s role:


The teacher is a model, guide, and promoter, but he is not the only protagonist of the class. It
must give prominence to the student as responsible for learning and encourage their active
participation, through factors such as motivation, awakening interest, etc.

Role of the student Notional functional approach


In this new learning process, the student must become active, it is up to him to interact.
Presence of grammar Notional functional approach
The grammatical and lexical elements are studied within the functions of the language, and
because the practice is carried out through simulations, the correction goes to the background.

Learning is inductive, but it does not exclude deductive. It is intended to develop the four skills:
listening and speaking, reading and writing. Notional functional approach
Characteristics functional approach
1. These programs, more than an approach or teaching method, constitute a way of organizing
the language learning curriculum
2. They promote the learning of selected and organized linguistic elements from what is
functionally used in real communication. Notional functional approach
3. They are not a manual for teaching.
4. They do not focus on the student as the axis around which the class must revolve. They are
quantifiable (in observable terms).
5. The curriculum aims to achieve a certain number of objectives, through the application of
appropriate means.
6. They do not refer to the procedure to be followed, nor do they include a set of techniques or
activities through which the effective achievement of the proposed purposes is promoted.
Explanation of specific terms:

Notions are meaning elements that may be expressed through nouns, pronouns, verbs,
prepositions, conjunctions, adjectives or adverbs.
A notion is a concept, or idea: it may be quite specific, in which case it is virtually the same as
vocabulary (dog, house, for example); or it may be very general: time, size, emotion,
movement in which case it often overlaps with the concept of “topics”. A notion may be “time
past”; this may include past tenses, phrases like a month ago, in 1990, last week, and utterances
using temporal clauses beginning with when…., before…., after…. and so on;

A function is some kind of communicative act: it is the use of language to achieve a purpose,
usually involving interaction at least between two people. It is to generate ideas, to build
relationships, to elicit responses, to greet, to apologize, to emphasize, to suggest, to promise, to
invite and so on. For example: If the function would be suggesting, promising, apologizing,
greeting, inviting. “Inviting” may include phrases like “Would you like to….? I suggest….,
How about…? Please…

Read the sample below to identify how to plan an activity


ACTIVITIES
Theme: Shopping
Level: B1
General objective:
 Train students to make purchases.
Specific objectives:
 Write fundamental questions on the subject of shopping.
 Increase the lexicon of the students, starting with new vocabulary related to the topic of
shopping.
Activities:
1. Students will pair up to go shopping. The teacher will give each one the name of the place
where they should make their purchase (ice cream parlor, shoe store, pharmacy, store …)
According to this physical space, they must develop a written dialogue, and then represent it
before the class.
2. After each shopping role play is finished, the questions and vocabulary that stand out for the
students will be noted on the board. N

References:
http://www.btinternet.com/~ted.power/esl0316.html
http://www.vobs.at/ludescher/Grammar/functional.htm
http://www.btinternet.com/~ted.power/esl0316.html
http://paraelink.org
https://wildpartyofficial.com/what-is-the-notional-functional-approach/#What_is_the_notional-
functional_approach
https://novaekasari09.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/functional-notional-approach/

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