Language and Curriculum Development : a necessary compromise

The emphasis of the Schools Council Project on "The Teaching and Learning of English in Wales, 8 to 13" was on curriculum development, and this article is about one part of one aspect — the problem of acquiring the necessary basic knowledge when long-term, rigorous research studies are not possible. About 250 teachers throughout Wales completed surveys by filling in questionnaires on language errors made by pupils, methods of teaching English, language textbooks in use, pupils' interests and popular reading. All information was channelled into the preparation of classroom materials for both pupils and teachers.

The limitations of asking teachers to report their pupils' language errors are obvious, but useful information was gained about, for example, the influence of the Welsh language on English spelling and sentence patterns. Responses were least helpful in those areas which cause confusion amongst teachers, notably idiom and spoken English. The greatest problem for teachers is the question of standards in oral work. Such limited surveys for specific purposes were valuable, not least in indicating the size and complexity of language learning and teaching problems.