Question

In prose teaching, the top-down approach focuses on :

• A. Analysing sentence structure before reading the text as a whole
• B. Encouraging students to predict and infer using background knowledge
• C. Teaching grammar rules first, then applying them in prose passages
• D. Starting with vocabulary and then moving to comprehension

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Encouraging students to predict and infer using background knowledge

• In prose teaching, the top-down approach focuses on : Encouraging students to predict and infer using background knowledge.

• The top-down approach to teaching prose focuses on using a learner's existing knowledge and context to understand new information. Rather than starting with small components like words or grammar rules, it begins with the larger picture.

Here's how it works:

• Prior Knowledge: The teacher activates the students' prior knowledge, experiences, and cultural background related to the topic of the text.

• Predicting and Inferring: Students are encouraged to look at the title, headings, and images to make predictions about the content. As they read, they use their background knowledge and predictions to infer meaning, even if they don't know every single word.

• Contextual Understanding: The focus is on understanding the overall meaning and message of the text. Students learn to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context of the surrounding sentences and paragraphs.

• This approach is different from a bottom-up approach, which starts with the smallest units of language (letters, words, grammar) and builds towards overall comprehension.