沉默期理论及其对外语教学的启示

On Silent Period and Its Implications in Foreign Language Teaching

本文首先探讨沉默期理论的概念及其含义,接着综述沉默期现象的实证研究与结论。然后,详细分析沉默期在外语学习中形成的原因:(1)学习者建构"私人言语",为目的语输出做准备;(2)学习者的个性和认知风格不同。最后,结合我国外语教学实际讨论沉默期理论对外语教学的启示。

First, this paper explores the concept of silent period and its significance in foreign or second language learning, followed by literature review on empirical research into silent period phenomena. Second, it expounds the causes of silent period formation in foreign or second language learning. It is due to private speech which is used as the preparation for speech production and, on the other hand, the different lengths of silent periods for different people are the results of individual differences and cognitive learn- ing styles of the learners. In the end, it discusses the implications of silent period theory in foreign language teaching.