FINELY AND ROUGHLY TUNEDINPUT

Before dwelling on the
terms roughly and finely tuned
input, it is better to clarify the
term input. Input is "The
material and process of putting
in or feeding in; esp. the feeding
of data etc. into a computer or
feeding data into mind". Therefore
input is the language to which
students are exposed: teacher's
talk, listening activities, reading
passages, and the language
heard and read outside of class.
Input provides learners with the
material needed to enhance
their skill to employ the language
on their own. (NLRC) The input
(material) is of two kinds.
''Finely tuned'' input =
As the
term itself implies it is the
material which is organised in a
skilled manner and it has a goal
to achieve.
1. It is matched to
learners' present understanding
level and associated to what they
are already familiar with
2. It focuses on conscious learning of
a specific point: the
pronunciation of a word, the
contrast in the uses of two verb
tenses, new vocabulary, useful
social formulas
3. It is controlled
by the instructor or textbook
author
4. It is used in the
presentation stage of a lesson
Roughly tuned input
The term
implies more than what it seems
on the surface. It is not tailored
to the requirements of the class
or students; rather it challenges
the learners to enhance their
knowledge.
1. It is more complex
than learners' current
proficiency and stretches the
boundaries of their current
knowledge
2. It focuses on
authentic use of language in
listening or reading passages
3. It is used "as is," with minimal
alteration by the instructor or
textbook author
4. It is used in the
activity stage of the lesson