Basic Tenets of LAC

The basic tenets of Language across the curriculum are:

• Language develops primarily through its purposeful use. Language is a means for communicating messages. In LAC classrooms, students use language with definite purposes like clarifying doubts, preparing an advertisement or conducting an experiment. This gives clarity, meaning and direction to language learning.

• Language learning involves learning the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing along with non-verbal modes of communication. Any language involves four skills, viz., listening, Speaking, reading, and writing. However, along with these skills non-verbal modes of communication also prove effective for communicating ideas. There may be linguistic or cultural variations in non-verbal expression of ideas. This also needs to be internalized by a learner to be proficient in its use. Thus, learners need to learn to
• Comprehend oral input
• Construct meaningful utterances
• Understand written texts
• Produce written texts/discourse
• Attend to visual signs/ information
• Use visual means of expression
• Attend to the movements
• Use the whole body, the whole person

• Language development is a prerequisite to cognitive development. A minimum level of language proficiency is required to ensure cognitive development in learners. Theorists like Piaget and Vygotsky have emphasized the importance of language in cognitive development ZPD as proposed by Vygotsky is crossed by a child by means of use of language with peers or adults.

• Language is the chief medium for reflective learning essential to become an autonomous learner. Reflection or self-awareness regarding one's own behavior is essential to growth and development. Reflective thinking is needed to become an independent learner. This process of reflection is possible only through the use of language.