Function & Form
Components of Language Objectives
Language Objectives:
Specifically designed to promote students' language development through all four language domains: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Language objectives are based on content standard + ELP standard/proficiency levels. They inform which language functions and forms the students will learn, and how they will demonstrate their mastery of the lesson through reading, speaking, writing, or listening.
func·tion /ˈfəNG(k)SH(ə)n/
A language function refers to the tasks, purposes and use of language as they engage with content and interact with others. Functions represent the active use of language for a specific purpose. Students use language functions in order to express ideas, communicate with others, and show understanding of content in an academic setting.
The language functions are listed in a range of specificity from those first acquired to the most complex developmentally.
form /fôrm/
Language forms deal with the internal grammatical structure of words and phrases as well as the word themselves. When one compares boy and boys, for example, or man and men, he or she is considering the relationship between different language forms or structures.
The language forms are listed in a range of specificity from those first acquired to the most complex developmentally.
1. Indirect/ direct object, subject/verb agreement, pronouns
2. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives
3. Prepositional phrases
4. Present progressive tense adverbs
5. Past tense verbs, perfect aspect
6. Verbs: future tense, conditional mode
7. Verbs and verb phrases in questions
8. Questions with increasing specificity
9. Sentence structure, modals (will, can, may, shall)
10. Adjectives and conjunctions, comparatives, superlatives, adverbs
11. Comparative adjectives
12. Descriptive adjectives
13. Increasingly complex sentences
14. Increasingly specific academic vocabulary
15. Verb phrases
16. Sentence structure, specific vocabulary
17. Verb forms
18. Nouns, abstract nouns. pronouns, and adjectives
19. Verb forms, indicative verb, declarative sentences, complex sentences, adverbs of manner
20. Common, collective and abstract nouns. verb forms nominalizations
21. Complex sentences; increasing specificity of nouns, verbs, and adjectives; correlative conjunctions
22. Language of propaganda, complex sentences, nominalizations
23. Adverbs of time relative clauses, subordinate conjunctions
24. Modals (would, could, might), compound tenses (would have been)