As early as 1976...

As early as 1976, psychologist Ken Goodman stated that "language is language only when it is whole" (quoted in Fountas and Hannigans 1989, p. 134). According to Goodman, the whole is always viewed as being greater than the sum of its parts, and it is the whole that gives meaning to the parts.

In terms of grammar instruction, words, phrases, or sentences are not linguistic islands unto themselves; on the contrary, these linguistic elements only gain meaning when they are placed in context, and when used in conjunction with the whole. According to Goodman, once students experience the whole, they are then better prepared to deal with the analyses of the parts. We should acknowledge that Goodman is primarily addressing the needs of first language learners.

However, research in first language development has oftentimes acted as a catalyst for theoretical advancement in second language development. Furthermore, many second language specialists are currently emphasizing the importance of content-based instruction, authentic texts for listening and reading comprehension, and the need for connected discourse in grammar instruction, all of which emphasize the importance of whole language rather than fragmented speech in second/foreign language classroom.

Conceptually, then, we need to reappraise our orientation to grammar instruction if we have too often focused on fragmented discourse and artificial exercises. Many language programs stress a bottom-up approach by emphasizing the "bits and pieces' of language (sound, vocabulary lists, verb drills, etc.). This classroom practice usually results in non-language that can be characterized as being unnatural, cognitively undemanding, and dull (Cummins 1984).

On the other hand, a whole language approach stresses natural discourse and encourages students to comprehend meaningful and long samples of discourse from the very beginning of the lesson. By introducing the lesson with a whole text (for example, a story, poem, song, taped listening selection or cartoon), the teacher is foreshadowing the grammar explanation through the use of integrated discourse that will highlight the critical grammar to be taught.