Using plain language explanations for teaching rules of interaction
What is it about?
The Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) is a plain-language approach to describing meaning and cultural information. Many people have suggested that it can be used for teaching rules of interaction in language classrooms, but no one had tested it before. I worked with students in English language classrooms to see if they liked using NSM to learn about having conversations in English. They did like it, but they also had some good suggestions to make it easier to understand. This paper discusses both what the students liked about NSM, as well as some of their suggestions for improvement.
Why is it important?
Teaching students about the rules of interaction, and the reasons why these rules exist is very difficult, because there aren't any really structured ways of talking about this information. For migrants to new communities, knowing about these rules can help them to feel a better sense of belonging in their new home, and lessen the culture shock. Rather than only discussing potential applications, this article proposes methods and strategies for practical application in classroom contexts. This paper shows that the NSM approach works in classroom contexts, and that this information is needed by English language students.