Language regulatory practices in the ESL classroom: An analysis of lessons in some public senior high schools in Ghana.

Language regulation is perceived as positive because it makes learners more aware of their errors and allows for learner-generated repairs. Despite this evidence, studies in language regulation place little emphasis on language regulation in the classroom. This study examined the practices of language regulation in the ESL classroom. Using purposive sampling, data consisted of classroom lesson recordings and interviews from 8 classrooms (360 students; 24 teachers) in senior high schools in the Koforidua township. The findings showed that second language speakers reject the notion of “anything goes” and take on language expert roles, resulting in explicit and implicit regulation of language. Based on the findings, it is argued that teachers should design a system that provides learners the opportunity to practice English in the form of negotiating for correctness and acceptability within and outside of the classroom.