Review article about Metaphor

Reviewed by Berliani

Title       : Metaphor analysis in the educational discourse : A critical review.

Post by  : ZHENG Hong-bo1, SONG Wen-juan2

               (1. College English Section, Zhejiang Wanli University, Zhejiang 315101, China; 

                2. College of Foreign Languages, Ningbo Dahongying College, Zhejiang 315101,

                   China)

Pages     : 8 pages
Link        :

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED514704.pdf

Introduction
 

      Metaphors are the basic language of poetry, though common at all levels and in all. Language type.Metaphors, figures that imply a comparison between two different entities, are distinguished from similes, explicit comparisons characterized by words like or like. The methapora I reviewed was the use of methapora for teaching to students and teaching for teachers who would teach with metapora methods. A lot of knowledge about the 1 word that exists becomes a different meaning.

 Background

      This article discusses the teaching metaphors for students and teachers, this article is reviewed by 1.Zheng Hong-bo (English Department of Zhejiang University Wanli, Zhejiang 315101, China), 2.Sing Wen-juan, 2. College of Foreign Languages, Ningbo Dahongying College, Zhejiang 315101, China.
Metaphorical analysis is based on the belief that metaphor is a great linguistic tool, because it extends and encapsulates knowledge of familiarity and unfamiliarity.

Mtaphor in this journal, describes learning for teachers and students. How to get students to understand the concept of methapor. Metaphorical theory can help broaden learners' understanding of the different meanings of a word and improve the communication skills of the speaker or listener. Metaphor is always used in our daily life in communicating both in figurative words and pictures.

Metaphors are also an important part of teachers’ personal practical knowledge that shapes their understanding of their role as teachers (Pajak, 1986; Clandinin, 1986). And then,  Block (1992, p. 44), for example, used the term “macro-metaphors” that covers general representations of the role of the teacher. He said the 2 most common of these macro-metaphors used are the “teacher as contracted professional” and “teacher as a providing parent”.

In his journal says people's attitudes and beliefs are reflected in the language they use, is it possible to gain some insight into students' views of English learning from the metaphors they use to describe them.With the example given by the reviewers through not read, Factor analysis shows that respondents' rumors can be grouped into 8 interpretable factors (eg, authority, upbringing, production, captivity) and that there is some internal coherence (eg, simile in the concept of authority included "Animal trainers" for teachers, "Wild animals" for students and "forests" for classes).

Swales (1994) says, “Using a pictorial metaphor to gain learners' confidence in 12 adult female students at an early stage in Dubai. The study shows that there is no machine metaphor, no communication metaphor, and no picture of mind as a computer. All metaphors are directed to elements of nature such as land, village life and family. And the researchers suggest pictorial metaphors can provide a useful tool for getting L2 learners at all stages to make their views on language learning explicit (clear). This is particularly helpful at the beginner or pre-transition stage when learners do not have a meta language in L2 to explain their own language learning theories.

Studies in china says that, “The statistical analysis of the valid data reveals: (1) metaphor, as a tool of representation and reflection, is an indispensable part of the learners' cognitive study; (2) learners' English teaching learning beliefs are based on their own life and study experience and manifest certain cultural trend and value orientation.

Weakness

     This article still uses the language of the book in the review, and the explanation is lacking. Giving few specific examples of each given explanation, and the authors give a less precise example of the teacher as an animal trainer, a student as a wild animal and a forest class.


Excellence

     This article pretty much publishes opinions about metaphor as a medium of instruction and learning. Mthode teaching is good enough for writing and speaking. It becomes the teacher to be more selective in using figurative words to his or her students as well as with the students towards the teacher.

Conclusion

 
    Understanding in metaphors can be thought of in keywords and images. It depends on one's perception of something. For metaphors learners can be used as media to improve understanding in learning. Metaphors also help students to understand more than one meaning in the text. And the metaphor also helps the teacher become a creative teacher in this method in L2 in order to see the professionalism and the cleverness of the teacher in the insights he has achieved. In the journal, two opinions from two opinions in oxford and studies in China say that methapor is an allusion to rural, forest, and nature.

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