APPENDIX F TO CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS FOR DISCUSSION (IGBO)
Blass, Johnson and Gage (1970) list no fewer than five sets of teaching materials produced for the Igbo language within the 1960's. The most recent is Welmers and Welmers (1968). The subject of this appendix is 5 of the 10 pages of Lesson 1 in that book. Later lessons are a little longer, but are generally similar in format. In the introduction to their book, the authors say:
Since these lessons are intended to be intensely practical, it may seem strange that they do not start right out with some lively, useful daily conversations. There is good reason, however, for the procedure used. For one not used to a second language, and particularly a tone language, accurate pronunciation is difficult to achieve; but it is also crucially important. The drills that may seem monotonous at first are actually a golden opportunity to learn to control pronunciation at the outset, so that habits of sloppy pronunciation will never have a good chance to develop. At the same time, every utterance in every drill is a perfectly good and natural utterance that will be found useful in daily life.
The details of Igbo pronunciation will be outlined step by step in the early lessons. Try to imitate every detail accurately, but don't expect everything to be explained at once; concentrate on the points emphasized in each drill as you go along. The same is true of grammar: don't try to anticipate new forms and constructions, or you will only confuse yourself and everyone else. Don't worry about what you haven't learned to say: concentrate on saying what you have learned, and saying it accurately. The goal is to speak not so that you can be understood, but so that you cannot be misunderstood.
- With reference to the distinction between audiolingual habit formation and cognitive-code learning (Chapter 1, p. 7 ff.), does this textbook seem to be predominately A-L, or T-C?
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