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What is "Code breaking?" Grammar is the code of language, and MVL is a code breaking device. MVL is like a military code breaker who intercepts messages - initially appearing to be a pure jumble of letters - and makes sense out of them. One of the basic tasks of a code breaker is to find patterns in this jumble. One cryptographer described teams of young people during World War II working over encrypted texts, trying 'to find its pulse.' Once the patterns are found, the cryptographers can move on and complete the deciphering process by using their existing knowledge of the language, and also their knowledge in general. During WW II, the de-coding center in England was at Bletchley Park. It was here that Robert Gillies (co-founder of MVL) mother worked along other cryptographers and code-breakers. Time and again, a code that had defied a systematic, brute force attack would yield to a foray from a totally unconventional angle. Knox, one of the leaders of the cryptographers, became famous at Bletchley for quoting the Alice in Wonderland riddle, 'Which way does a clock go round?' Anyone foolish enough to say "clockwise" would be sternly told, "Not if you're the clock it doesn't!"With all its idioms, mannerisms, rules, then broken rules, and massive vocabulary with many words having multiple meanings, English must appear to have many Alice in Wonderland qualities to students who need to master it. There are many children who see a page of text as a jumble of words and letters. MVL is a tool that helps children become 'code breakers,' that helps them break all these words down into different entities, each with its own function with regard to meaning, and to see patterns. Once students discover and understand the patterns they are on the way to breaking the code and mastering the English language. Here are some of the concepts that can be taught using MVL:
The function of nouns to name things and people.Nouns are subdivided into common nouns and proper nouns.Common nouns typically have an article, proper nouns typically do not.The function of possessive nouns.Adjectives describe people and things. The order of adjectives if 2 or 3 are being used.Verbs must be in every sentence. (No exceptions! In these early stages, anyway. )The functions of the verb to be in the following guises: is/was/were/are/will be.Simple verb tense, past, present and future.The verb have.Progressive or continuous verb tense, past, present and future.Passive voice past, present, and future.Perfect tense, past, present, and future.Negation of all these verb structures.Prepositions indicate position of persons and things.The function and placement of subject, object and possessive pronouns.Adverbs add information to a sentence.Conjunctions link a variety of these grammatical elements.The most common patterns - the word order - in English sentence structure: subject-verb, subject-compliment, subject-verb-object, subject-verb-indirect object-direct object, prepositional phrases and adjectival phrases.The most basic question forms.
And more!
The concepts mentioned above are indispensable grammatical concepts, the very foundation of English. With MVL it is quite possible for a child to develop a strong intuitive sense of the real meaning of each of these concepts in the earliest grades. Many activities could easily start with pre-schoolers.By playing with the MVL shapes, and doing the many enjoyable activities associated with them, students can develop a strong sense that nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives, conjunctions, pronouns, adverbs and articles are specific entities that have definite functions - with some, like verbs, having multiple functions - which contribute to meaning. Instead of being afraid and intimidated by the English language, students will learn to be explorers and enjoy discovering the intricacies of English grammar.
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