Creating Learning Partners: A facilitator’s guide for training effective adult literacy tutors

This introduces another way of looking at language. It looks at the purpose of a communication event.

Use of handout, discussion
Materials and equipment Handout 12.2: The Functions of Language Preparation Copy handout and read it. STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS Hand out The Functions of Language. Go over the introduction and ask tutors to give examples of what one function might look like in all skill areas. For example: arguing – listening to find a flaw in the argument, speaking in an emotional way, reading to find corroborating material for one side of the argument, writing a letter to the editor. Then mention, as in the handout, that functions have particular phrases as well. Ask for a phrase to go with an example that tutors have given. For example, using the example of arguing again, a letter to the editor might include the phrase “I feel strongly that….”

Use of handout, discussion

Materials and equipment

Handout 12.2: The Functions of Language

Preparation

Copy handout and read it.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Hand out The Functions of Language.
Go over the introduction and ask tutors to give examples of what one function might look like in all skill areas. For example: arguing – listening to find a flaw in the argument, speaking in an emotional way, reading to find corroborating material for one side of the argument, writing a letter to the editor.
Then mention, as in the handout, that functions have particular phrases as well. Ask for a phrase to go with an example that tutors have given. For example, using the example of arguing again, a letter to the editor might include the phrase “I feel strongly that….”

The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.

Ralph Nichols