Why Language Arts?
And why this hideous green?
(There’s no reason for the green, but why you need Language
Arts is just a slide away!)
Communication…duh!
• You communicate all the time – but how well
do you communicate? Communicating well or
poorly can mean the difference between
getting a job or not (money), passing a class or
flunking out (grades), getting a date or being
avoided like the plague (affection) and more!
…But…Language is not a subject!
• It’s actually a symbol
system.
• That means that
everything is the subject
content of language
because everything is
symbolized through
language.
• Do you know what some
of these symbols mean?
There are four language arts –
can you name them?
The 4 Language Arts are…
1. Speaking
2. Listening
3. Reading
4. Writing
Two of these arts are “receptive” – reading
and listening – while two arts are “productive” –
speaking and writing.
The Receptive Arts: “Reading”
• Perhaps the art most connected with the term
language arts, reading is how we receive
information through picture symbol systems.
• We interpret the symbols before us and make
meaning from them. Hopefully we understand
what the author intended us to understand.
• Sometimes we understand more and
sometimes less than the author intended.
The Receptive Arts: Listening
• Listening is how we interpret spoken
language. This is the first and most natural
language art, which means we won’t focus
much on it. The most important key, though, is
concentrating on what is being said.
• Some tips:
– Also look for nonverbal cues.
– Listen for key words
– Associate what’s being said with prior knowledge
– Seek clarification by asking questions.
The Productive Arts: “Speaking”
• Speaking is the composition of oral language. It
usually occurs almost instantaneously. To
compose spoken language successfully, it is
important to remember what language is –
connections between ideas and symbols.
• Language essentially is about connections. Focus
on helping your listeners connect ideas in their
minds when you speak. Connect your first idea
with the second idea and so on, hopefully leading
to a point.
The Productive Arts: “Writing”
• Writing is complicated. It’s similar to speaking
in that it involves composition as well. The
main difference is that it adds “transcription”
to the mix.
• “Composition” is the act of directing meaning
using symbols.
• “Transcription” is the act of writing down a
composition.
Writing Continued
• Writing as a process is “recursive.” Recursive
literally means writing over again. Though
most students don’t like writing multiple
drafts, this actually means that you can
correct mistakes and make your writing better.
That’s why writing is great! (smiley face!)
There are no vocabulary words
after this point.
A Matter of Meaning
• So…producing and interpreting meaning is
what language arts is all about. We decide
collectively what things (words) mean.
• Words and languages are changing all the
time. For example “awful” once meant "full of
awe“ as in “wonderful.” Now it’s usually
synonymous with “terrible.”
• Can you think of any other words that have
changed meaning? If not, there are some
more on the next slide.
What they used to mean:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Desire: to study the stars carefully.
Doom: a statute or law, judgment or decree.
Grin: scowl or show teeth signifying anger.
Guess: take aim, as with a weapon.
Idiot: a layman as opposed to a clergyman.
Knight: a boy or a servant
Left: weak
Making Meaning
• This year in language arts, you’ll have an
opportunity to practice all four of the arts,
deciding and making meaning.
• I hope that makes you as excited about
language arts class as I am!
The End