Language Study

» teachESL - Asking Questions

Thanks for writing, Dorit. I agree with you that the "target language" is a meta-language, and for that reason some second-language learners may find asking questions more difficult in that second language. But it is different for every learner: factors such as fluency, confidence, and individual personality all play a part in how a student may engage in asking questions.

As you know, second-language learners come into their study with learning experiences that pre-define potential outcomes. In other words, if a student has a past experience in which asking questions in class is frowned upon by a teacher or educational community, asking questions will certainly prove more difficult in a second language. At the same time, a student who is encouraged to ask questions may actually find the experience very liberating.

So, to answer your question, I do not know if asking questions in class or in simple public circumstances is under primary investigation by researchers interested in aspects of second-language acquisition focused specifically on theories of metacognition; however, I wonder if the challenges your EFL Israeli learners are experiencing has more to do with their previous educational background as opposed to some problem utilizing the language itself.

-- posted by teachESL