How can you apply linguistics to language teaching?

1 Phonetics and phonology

Phonetics and phonology are the branches of linguistics that deal with the sounds of language and how they are organized and used. By learning about phonetics and phonology, you can better understand how to pronounce and transcribe words, how to identify and correct pronunciation errors, how to teach intonation and stress patterns, and how to use phonetic symbols and charts. You can also use phonetic and phonological analysis to compare and contrast different languages and dialects, and to expose your students to different varieties of speech.

2 Morphology and syntax

Morphology and syntax are the branches of linguistics that deal with the forms and structures of words and sentences. By learning about morphology and syntax, you can better understand how to explain and teach grammar rules, how to identify and correct grammatical errors, how to create and use exercises and activities that target specific grammatical features, and how to analyze and compare different grammatical systems and categories. You can also use morphological and syntactic analysis to explore the diversity and complexity of language, and to help your students develop their linguistic awareness and creativity.

3 Semantics and pragmatics

Semantics and pragmatics are the branches of linguistics that deal with the meanings and uses of language in context. By learning about semantics and pragmatics, you can better understand how to teach and interpret vocabulary, how to identify and avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding, how to teach and use speech acts and conversational strategies, and how to adapt your language to different situations and purposes. You can also use semantic and pragmatic analysis to investigate the relationships between language, culture, and cognition, and to help your students develop their communicative competence and intercultural sensitivity.

4 Sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics

Sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics are the branches of linguistics that deal with the social and psychological aspects of language. By learning about sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics, you can better understand how to account for the influences of factors such as age, gender, class, ethnicity, identity, attitude, motivation, and learning style on language use and acquisition. You can also use sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic analysis to examine the issues of language variation, change, policy, planning, and education, and to help your students develop their linguistic identity and confidence.

5 Applied linguistics and language pedagogy

Applied linguistics and language pedagogy are the branches of linguistics that deal with the applications of linguistic theory and research to language teaching and learning. By learning about applied linguistics and language pedagogy, you can better understand how to design and evaluate your curriculum, syllabus, materials, methods, techniques, and assessment tools, how to conduct and use action research and classroom observation, how to collaborate and communicate with other language teachers and learners, and how to reflect and improve your professional development. You can also use applied linguistic and language pedagogical analysis to explore the current trends and challenges in language teaching and learning, and to help your students achieve their linguistic goals and needs.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?