I am a Blogger at IATEFL, Birmingham 2016

April 15
Day 4

Plenary by Diane Larsen-Freeman

Shifting metaphors from computer input to ecological affordances

The talk can be watched here: https://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2016/session/plenary-diane-larsen-freeman

The word "metaphors" in the talk title immediately caught my eye...as right at the moment metaphors are my linguistic research focus...And the language learner and the learning process described and commented on by Diane is one of the examples of "Metaphors We Live By" (J.Lakoff)!!!:)
And these really ARE metaphors we live by!!!:):)

The important fact described by Diane was that a foreign language student is no longer treated as a computer with its "input - output" system (materials suggested to the student - the student's speech as a result) but as a complex dynamic system which can react to any new change in the learning environment and adopt himself to these changes.
Bright was the comparison made by Diane of a language learner and the adaptive immune system which reacts to any "unknown invaders" by adaptin itself and thus trying to gain advantages for itself from it!!