nature of classroom events. If, for example, the teacher explains something
in the target language, the language of that explanation is available to
be learned. It constitutes potential 'intake'. Similarly, all the things that get
said when errors are being corrected constitute potential intake, as do all
the things said in the target language by other learners.
2 'Emergent' content
If we define 'content' as the sum total of'what is taught' and 'what is available
to be learned', then it becomes clear that 'content' (potential intake) is
not predictable. It is, rather, something that emerges because of the interactive
nature of classroom events.
3 Materials may contribute in some way, but cannot determine CONTENT.
Again we find that the role of teaching materials is necessarily limited. Even
what learners learn is in an important way independent of die materials
used.
This notion of content needs further analysis (see Appendix 1) but here I
can simply indicate four main types of content: