I've never thought about theory until I came to the graduate school. No, actually I have, but let's put it this way; I did not perceive theory as the way it should be understood. This truly shows how much I gave it reflection in my life. Very little. Almost nothing. At the same time, it's funny that I didn't consider theory as an option or choice that I can take, which nevertheless is the very essense of it. Even when I took Japanese linguistic theory, it didn't occur to me that it is a "theory," let alone I knew what I could do with it. The reason why I start with this stupid and embarrassing part of me is that I think I found what I have to do with "theory."
It sounds condescending and arrogant, but actually what I found is a very small fact. Maybe everyone else already knew it and gave up on it already, but to me, this comforting little fact explains everything. That is, theory is just theory. It might seem too ominous and depressing, but I found it very relieving in a way that it takes off all the concern and discomfort that I have about theory.
But when you think of the purpose of theory, it's not supposed to be this hard. It should not be this negative and disquieting. Theory gives you more ideas, options, and choices, and you get to have lots to say. So, I'm here in the middle of a classroom wondering whether I will ride on the comfort saying "theory is theory" or switch over to the messenger of "expressivism," "social constructivism," and "multiculturalsim."
I don't think I can come to a decision right away. I might not be able to do that until at the end of the semester or maybe, not quite happily, even at the moment that I would be on the podium. But maybe I overlooked its uncertainty over the possibility of change, whatever it is concerned. Apparently, there is a small window of opportunity, and all it asks you to do is try. But why are we hesitating? What are we waiting for? And why are we ignoring the chances?
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Jeong writes, "Theory gives you more ideas, options, and choices, and you get to have lots to say."
I would agree that theory becomes both the ingredients for one's ideas and the catalyst for developing those ideas. It does not stand on its own, but must be mixed with practice and observation.
I have written the following response to other class bloggers about theory, and I think it is relevant here: The Ancient Greek rhetorical theorists offered the concept of _praxis_, which applies to what Ashleigh has written here. This is the idea of theory broght to bear on practice. In other words, it is applied theory. So instead of offering theory abstractly to students, the better choice would be to bring it in as it applies to what is happening in the classroom or the outside world. Thus, in discussing theories of the social construction of knowledge, one might wait until some moment of classroom collaboration to put for the the theoretical arguments. Likewise, when teaching theory, try to have an activity that reinforces it by showing the theory in action.
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