Built-in syllabus

Built-in syllabus

What is the learner´s built-in syllabus?

The learner´s built-in syllabus means that learners follow a "natural" order and sequence of acquisition. According to Ellis's principle, instruction needs to take into account the learner´s built-in syllabus.

Are the instructions important?

Instructions are important but work only if it is compatible with natural processes of acquisition.

Ways of accommodating instruction to the built-in syllabus:

• The zero grammar approach (i.e. adapt a task-based approach). That is, employ a task-based approach that makes no attempt to predetermine the linguistic content of a lesson.
• Ensure that learners are developmentally ready to acquire a specific target feature. Teach grammatical structures that learners are ready to acquire.
• Focus the instruction on explicit rather than implicit knowledge