ディベートがダメ、と書いたが、ディベートのジャッジ基準に仮にスピーチコンテストのような英語自体の質に関する基準が加わったら話はまったく変わるはず。シャドウイングはやめておけ、といっても、正確さを常に担保するような工夫さえあれば、これまた話は変わってくる。こうしてみると、問題の本質は、正確さを無視してスピードを追い求めざるをえないような構造になっているタスクが有害だ、ということだね。
In my last post, I disapproved of debating as an English learning task, but come to think of it, IF judging criteria for debating matches include scales regarding the quality of English itself, like those used in speech contests, a debate match would become a totally different animal. Shadowing, which basically should not be attempted by an EFL learner, could be a beneficial activity IF conduced under a close supervision by a strict and accuracy-conscious coach. Therefore, the conclusion should be that it is any timed or speeded tasks that drive learners to seek fluency without accuracy that should be avoided.
