TITLE:
Assistance in Learning and Teaching the English Article System: Diagnostics and Mnemonics
AUTHORS:
Douglas J. Wulf
KEYWORDS:
English Grammar, English as a Second Language, Language Pedagogy, English Article System, Etymology, Diagnostics, Mnemonics
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Linguistics,
Vol.6 No.4,
August
15,
2016
ABSTRACT: Accurate use of the article system in English is a common problem even for advanced students of English as a second language (ESL). Articles are non-salient and there is much idiosyncrasy in their patterns of use. Extensive lists of rules and exceptions have been advanced to describe how to use articles, but such lists can be more confusing than helpful. A valuable pedagogical tool could be a simple set of diagnostics to check article patterns rapidly within their context of use coupled with mnemonics to help to summarize and recall various typical usage patterns. This paper advances such diagnostics and mnemonics drawing upon the etymology of the articles for inspiration. A small pilot study was also accomplished to indicate the potential pedagogical utility of this strategy for teaching and learning articles in English.