Formulas
Bardovi-Harlig (2001) mentions the centrality of formulae in everyday pragmatic expression. With this in mind, what formulae do we use all the time to imply a speech act in English that often confuse learners? Should these be taught? If so, how? Jot down your ideas before you see how our participating language teachers answered this question.
Discussion of formulaic expressions.
Duration: 01:40
One teacher brought up the issue of sincerity, referring to how the pragmatic expressions in the target language could be interpreted by the learner. Without an understanding of why the expressions are different in the target language, the learner could easily come to question the sincerity of the native speaker formulaic expressions.
Another issue that our language teachers raised was how learners who have spent much time in the target culture learn the L2 pragmatic expressions to the point that they also become formulaic to them. Often advanced learners (such as teachers and graduate students of the target language) report that they do catch themselves transferring some expressions.
Discussion of formulaic variation.
Duration: 03:54
The question discussed here is whether some of the colloquial L2 formulae that are not easily translated literally in the learner's native language should be taught in the L2 curriculum. The ensuing discussion brings up when and how they should be taught.