Delphi module

5.1.5.1
Formal and content schemas

Schemas relate both to content, that is, our expectations about how things are in the world, and form, that is, our expectations about the organization and structure of a particular type of discourse.

The role of both content and formal schemata has been established in both L1 and L2 comprehension (Long, 1990: 66-8). The problem in L2 comprehension is two-fold:

learners do not always mobilize their existing schemas in L2 comprehension;
existing schemas are inevitably determined by one's cultural background, and therefore may be insufficient for interpreting L2 input.

Reflection task 5

All of the questions below draw on your content or formal schemas. Answer the question and identify whether you think the schematic knowledge you are drawing on is formal or content (or both).

If I tell you you are going to hear a news bulletin about a strike, what kind of information would you expect to hear?
If you bump into a friend at the bus stop, what kind of thing do you expect them to say first?
If you listen to a lecture, what kind of information do you expect in the first few minutes? in the last few minutes?
What information do you expect to hear in loud-speaker announcements in a railway station?
You decide to watch a TV documentary about trains in Britain. What issues do you expect to come up?
What information do you expect to hear at the end of a news bulletin (before the weather forecast)?

Now click on Commentary.