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ABSTRACT
The principle of the four strands says that a well balanced language course should have four equal strands of meaning focused input, meaning focused output, language focused learning, and fluency development. By applying this principle, it is possible to answer questions like How can I teach vocabulary? What should a well balanced listening course contain? How much extensive reading should we do? Is it worthwhile doing grammar translation? and How can I find out if I have a well balanced conversation course? The article describes the rationale behind such answers. The four strands principle is primarily a way of providing a balance of learning opportunities, and the article shows how this can be done in self regulated foreign language learning without a teacher.
Keywords: Fluency learning, four strands, language focused learning, meaning focused input, meaning focused output.
INTRODUCTION
The principle of the four strands (Nation, 2007) states that a well balanced language course should consist of four equal strands - meaning focused input, meaning focused output, language focused learning, and fluency development. Each strand should receive a roughly equal amount of time in a course.
The meaning focused input strand involves learning through listening and reading. This is largely incidental learning because the learners' attention should be focused on comprehending what is being read or listened to. The meaning focused output strand involves learning through speaking and writing and in common with the meaning focused input strand involves largely incidental learning. The language focused learning strand involves deliberate attention to language features, including spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, multiword units, grammar, and discourse. In second language acquisition research, the strand is often referred to as form focused instruction, but this terminology is a little misleading as it not only focuses on form but also on meaning and use, and it need not be instruction but may be learning initiated by language learners. The fourth strand of a well balanced course is a fluency development strand, which aims at helping the learners make the best use of what is already known. The definition of fluency used in the fluency development strand simply relates to being able to receive and produce language at a reasonable rate. Like the meaning focused input and meaning focused output strands of...