‘Language is a learned behaviour and is acquired through imitation’ (Cooke 2014, p 77).
Cooke, A. (2014) A qualitative inquiry into the construction of modern foreign language teachers’ beliefs and pedagogical content knowledge. Norwich: University of East Anglia.
In my language tuitions, I always use the target language giving students the opportunity to practice speaking the language.
According to the national curriculum (DfE, 2014) as far as language learning is concerned “the teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing”. Therefore, you must take every opportunity to practice speaking the target language.
DfE (2014) National Curriculum in England: complete framework for key stages 1 to 4 – for teaching from September 2016. London: Crown Publications.
“A foreign language is like a frail, delicate muscle. If you do not use it, it weakens.” – Jhumpa Lahiri