By Linda D’Argenio

April 13, 2023

There are various objectives English language lecturers contemplate when creating their educational methods and deciding on class actions. Contemplating whether or not to deal with fluency vs. accuracy is a vital one. Is one set of abilities extra vital than the opposite? Ought to they be taught individually? Can they be taught collectively? These are all good questions, and now we have solutions for you. However first, it could be useful to have a look at some definitions.

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What are accuracy and fluency in instructing English?

The query of whether or not to deal with accuracy vs. fluency in language instructing is vital as a result of, relying on the reply, lecturers will emphasize totally different elements of the language (for instance, grammar for accuracy or dialog for fluency). Let’s look extra intently at what the 2 phrases imply.

Accuracy

Defining accuracy and fluency can generally be problematic, as definitions for every time period might range a bit. However there are some frequent interpretations of each phrases.

When lecturers discuss accuracy, they normally discuss with:

• Data and understanding of grammar guidelines, vocabulary use, and pronunciation
• A capability to use grammar guidelines and vocabulary in writing
• A capability to use grammar guidelines, vocabulary, and pronunciation in talking

Accuracy may also discuss with an consciousness of the totally different registers current in a language, e.g., formal, colloquial, and so on. In different phrases, an correct speaker of English will display an consciousness of context and know when to make use of formal or casual language.

Fluency

The definition of fluency is more difficult. Based on the Educational Press article “On Fluency,” one of many elements of fluency is “the flexibility to fill time with speak.” The English Language Institute at Victoria College of Wellington’s “Bettering Talking Fluency” paper provides that “fluency might be described as the flexibility to course of language receptively and productively at an affordable velocity.”

So, when lecturers discuss fluency, they normally discuss with:

• A capability to communicate or write simply
• A capability to talk or write at an affordable velocity
• A capability to talk or write with errors that don’t impede communication

Which comes first, fluency or accuracy?

Ideally, accuracy and fluency ought to advance on the identical tempo through the language acquisition course of, however that is usually not the case. Whether or not college students first communicate precisely or fluently usually will depend on the instructor’s educational type. For instance, English language lecturers who’ve adopted a communication-based method to language instruction will emphasize publicity to the second language (L2) and interplay, reasonably than accuracy. However does this imply elevated fluency comes on the expense of accuracy? Not essentially.

Researchers within the journal article “Want We Sacrifice Accuracy for Fluency?” performed an experiment with ESL faculty kids in Hungary, evaluating accuracy vs. fluency of youngsters who studied English as a international language with a communication/content-based method with those that studied with a form-based conventional method. The previous had been barely extra correct of their manufacturing of grammatical morphemes in an oral interview and had been extra fluent, confirming that communication-based approaches don’t sacrifice accuracy for fluency.

Whatever the educational type, college students might also naturally purchase accuracy and fluency abilities at totally different occasions. From a developmental viewpoint, it seems that kids buying their first language usually develop fluency earlier than accuracy. That is partly attributable to the truth that not all grammar constructions are acquired on the identical velocity.

For instance, in English verb conjugation, the third individual is acquired after the primary and second individuals. This doesn’t stop kids from speaking within the third individual, albeit with errors. Neither does it imply that they are going to ceaselessly be unable to make use of the third individual. Equally, adults might also purchase grammar constructions at various speeds based mostly on a wide range of components, equivalent to studying type, expertise with language acquisition, and so on.

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Nevertheless, many lecturers fear that if college students don’t purchase the proper grammatical constructions from the outset, they are going to find yourself constructing errors of their speech that may stick with them, probably ceaselessly. To not fear, as there are some educational strategies that will promote parallel development in each accuracy and fluency.

One such educational technique is Instructing Proficiency Via Studying and Storytelling (TPRS), which makes use of storytelling as a instructing instrument. This technique emphasizes publicity to understandable enter (CI) and oral manufacturing within the L2. Based on Karen Lichtman, creator of “Instructing Proficiency Via Studying and Storytelling,” college students taught with TPRS evaluate favorably in take a look at scores and normal language proficiency with college students for whom accuracy was the first focus of instruction. The takeaway: It’s doable, with the suitable instructing methods, to develop each accuracy and fluency throughout the identical class actions, suggesting the abilities aren’t mutually unique.

Are you able to be fluent however not correct?

It’s actually doable to talk a language fluently however not precisely. This chance exists for L2 and native audio system alike. Examples of native English audio system who make grammatical errors when talking or writing abound. In a pleasant little ebook appropriately titled “Between You and I – a bit of ebook of dangerous English,” creator James Cochrane lists examples of frequent grammar and vocabulary errors usually made by native English audio system.

Amongst these is the grammatical error cleverly used within the title (“between you and I”) which highlights the frequent confusion even amongst native audio system of the totally different capabilities of topic and object pronouns. One other instance with which lecturers are eminently acquainted is the confusion between the verbs “can” and “might,” as in, “Can I am going to the toilet?” Different examples of frequent errors embody “its vs. it’s,” “their vs. they’re,” “then vs. than,” and plenty of others. That people making these errors are native English audio system reveals it’s completely doable to be fluent however not correct in talking a language.

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How can a instructor steadiness instructing fluency and accuracy?

ESL lecturers are rightly involved with encouraging fluency of their college students whereas instilling correct language constructions and vocabulary utilization. Many lecturers additionally fear that an extreme emphasis on fluency might come on the expense of accuracy. So, how can lecturers steadiness accuracy and fluency in language instructing?

Many actions can be utilized to foster each accuracy and fluency. Nevertheless, when training fluency, it’s advisable to not stress accuracy. In fluency-oriented workout routines, the instructor ought to intention for college students’ self-expression and be extra involved about content material than kind. If college students really feel their speech is being evaluated for correctness, they are going to change into anxious and reluctant to precise themselves.

When the instructor emphasizes content material, particularly content material that pursuits college students, the scholars will likely be extra desirous to take part. On this case, the instructor ought to chorus from overtly correcting college students’ errors. An unobtrusive approach of correcting college students is to mannequin the right kind by appropriately repeating their sentences. For instance, if a pupil says, “I like exit with my associates,” the instructor can say, “Is that proper? You want to exit with your mates?”

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Accuracy vs. fluency actions

Some instructing methods intentionally keep away from the fluency versus accuracy dichotomy, preferring to develop each ability units implicitly and concurrently. When specializing in accuracy, it’s a good suggestion to take action throughout the context of dialog or studying. College students who’re concerned in “fascinating” content material will likely be extra targeted and receptive to express grammar instruction. Alternatively, instructing grammar in isolation could make for a reasonably uninteresting lesson. Listed here are some pattern actions lecturers can use to encourage accuracy and fluency that may be tailor-made to suit your college students’ age and ability stage.

To enhance accuracy:

• Grammar and pronunciation drills. These are traditional actions that foster accuracy. English textbooks usually have an train part or a companion workbook with grammar actions and listening drills to observe pronunciation. ESL lecturers who don’t use a textbook can simply discover on-line observe workout routines for his or her college students.
• Discover the errors and proper them. A good way to stimulate college students’ consideration to grammar guidelines is to offer them sentences with errors and ask them to search out and proper them. Akin to that is asking college students to appropriate one another’s writing. When engaged in this kind of exercise, college students will mechanically focus their consideration on figuring out errors and understanding how the errors diverge from the norm. This is a wonderful technique to stimulate pupil reflection on the L2.
• Fill within the blanks. Give your college students sentences with blanks that have to be crammed, and supply choices with phrases that look related however have totally different meanings, like “spill” and “spell,” or “praise” and “complement.” That is an efficient technique to fine-tune their vocabulary accuracy and make them conscious of refined variations in spelling.

To enhance fluency:

• Topical conversations. Fluency in a language is greatest acquired by dialog, however the dialog subject ought to spark the learner’s curiosity. ESL lecturers can put together a listing of matters beforehand and even ballot the scholars to see which subject pursuits them essentially the most.
• Co-create tales. The TPRS technique is likely one of the most profitable in instructing fluency as a result of it repeatedly encourages college students’ output. Within the TPRS class, college students co-create tales with the instructor. As soon as the story has progressed past two or three sentences, the instructor can ask the scholars to explain the state of affairs. In DtS (Describe the State of affairs), the instructor first describes what has occurred within the story, then asks college students to observe on their very own or in pairs, and eventually has college students DtS independently. There are infinite variations on DtS that may make the exercise extra inventive and gratifying. You possibly can ask college students to explain the state of affairs utilizing a sure emotion or to explain it from totally different factors of view. That is additionally a wonderful alternative to implicitly appropriate the scholar’s speech and enhance accuracy.
• Poster displays and roleplay. These actions can be utilized to observe vocabulary and grammar relative to particular matters and foster fluency. As soon as a subject has been decided, e.g., household, hobbies, and so on., the scholars create posters with pictures and descriptions. They then put together a presentation to be given in entrance of the category. The opposite college students hear and, on the finish, are required to ask the presenter questions. The pictures work as references to assist the presenter bear in mind the content material to be conveyed. In roleplay, college students work in teams to create and memorize a script. Then, they carry out the script they’ve created and memorized.

Obtain this Bridge infographic on fluency vs. accuracy to offer your self a fast reminder of the variations between these vital ideas.

Each accuracy and fluency are vital

Accuracy and fluency are each important parts of language instruction and must be emphasised in equal measure. Cultivating each ability units individually or concurrently by focused actions is feasible. The simplest methods to show these important abilities are those who mix accuracy and fluency in partaking ways in which seize college students’ curiosity, growing engagement and studying capability.

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