Unit 4.

FUNCTIONS.

Beare, K. (2018). Language Functions. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/L9Hd5hs2djAcimoP9

The fourth unit in the book “The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3” talks about what function is and what it involves. Also, this unit will answer the questions: What can one learn from this? And, How teachers can apply that knowledge in a teaching situation?

To get started, what is function? According to the TKT book (Spratt, Pulverness y Williams, The TKT Course Modules 1,2 and 3. 2011) is the reason why we communicate. Also, the way in how we use the language. In addition, according to Halliday, (1975) language has seven functions (instrumental, regulatory, interactional, personal, heuristic, imaginative, and representational). Now, that we know what function refers to, it is also important to know what it involves. Firstly, register is the language that reflects the situation in which it is used, depending on the context. Register can express different levels of formality. Those levels are formal and informal. To be more specific, formal language is used in important situations between people who do not know very well, and informal language is used in a relaxed situation especially with friends or people who you know better. Also, informal is sometimes colloquial (casual and conversational) and neutral (neither respect). Secondly, people communicate using their level of formality depending on the situation which is called appropriacy, this term is classified in two, inappropriate or unsuitable and appropriate or suitable. Additionally, according to Bilsborough, (2015) teachers need to know the functions of language, how it works and the differences between register and appropriacy due to they are an important area of English.

To sum up, as teachers we can apply functions with our students making different activities. For example, (1) performing discourses, debates, role plays between friends, and so on which are good options to develop their communicative ability and in that way, they could use the correct language whether formal or informal. Also, (2) creating some writings in the classroom are so useful due to it helps students to develop their writing skills and they can express all their ideas using the different examples of functions such as apologizing, inviting, refusing, etc.., depending on the context, they will also use levels of formality. In a classroom, these two examples are helpful because students will learn how to express themselves in a good way either written or spoken, using the correct functions of language.

For further information:

Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2011). The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 (Second). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139062398.003

Bilsborough, K. (2015). Register and appropriacy. 1. Retrieved from https://neltaeltforum.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/article-10__register-and-appropriacy.pdf

Halliday, M. (1975). Functions of Language. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVUSMFggeww