Scaffolding in the Indonesian classroom from theory and practise

Southeast Bangkok College, Bangkok

Abstract

Too often descriptions of language learning have focused primarily on the language components or the structural features. However, there is an increasing recognition that patterns of discourse realised through text rather than a sentence based approach to language description is turning away from discrete form-based aspects of language learning to focus on the effectiveness of how learners get their messages and ideas across to others. This paper will take as an example the process of writing as it is probably the most difficult of the language skills required of our learners. The cultural context is that of the ASEAN classroom in general and how we can go about scaffolding the writing process to help prepare Indonesian students for their potential role in the ASEAN of the future.