Controlled practice意思

"Controlled practice" is a term used in language teaching and learning, particularly in the context of second language acquisition (SLA). It refers to a type of practice activity where the learner is provided with a structured environment in which to practice language skills. The goal of controlled practice is to allow learners to focus on specific language structures or functions without the interference of other, possibly more dominant, language skills or knowledge.

In a controlled practice activity, the teacher or instructional material provides a model or structure for the learner to follow, often with a limited range of possible responses. This allows learners to practice using the target language in a predictable context, which can help them to internalize the structure or skill being taught. Controlled practice activities are typically used in the early stages of language learning, when learners are first acquiring the basic structures of the language.

Examples of controlled practice activities include:

  1. Drill exercises: Repeating words, phrases, or sentences after the teacher or a recording.
  2. Matching exercises: Matching words or phrases from one column to another.
  3. Completion exercises: Filling in the blanks in sentences or dialogues with the correct words or phrases.
  4. Role-plays: Following a scripted conversation or role-play to practice specific language functions.
  5. Controlled writing tasks: Writing sentences or short texts using a model or template provided by the teacher.

The key characteristic of controlled practice is that it is highly structured and the learner's output is constrained by the task or model provided. This contrasts with freer practice activities, where learners have more autonomy and can produce language in a more spontaneous way. Controlled practice is often seen as a stepping stone to more advanced language use, where learners can gradually move from controlled to semi-controlled and then to freer practice as their proficiency in the language increases.