SFL stands for Systemic Functional Linguistics,

 

SFL stands for Systemic Functional Linguistics, a theory of language developed by Michael Halliday. It views language as a social semiotic system—meaning it’s a tool we use to make meaning in different social contexts.

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🔍 Key Principles of SFL:

Concept	Description
Language is functional	Language is used to do things: describe, argue, explain, etc.
Meaning is shaped by context	The way we use language depends on who we're speaking to, what we're talking about, and how we're communicating.
Language has three metafunctions	Language always works on three levels at once: ideational, interpersonal, and textual.

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🧩 The Three Metafunctions in SFL:

Metafunction	Purpose	Example
Ideational	Expresses ideas and experiences (content)	“A lever is a simple machine.”
Interpersonal	Builds relationships and expresses attitudes	“I think this is a better example.”
Textual	Organizes the message for clarity	“First, we define a lever. Then we classify it.”

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🏫 Why is SFL important in education?

• It helps teachers explicitly teach how different types of texts work (reports, explanations, narratives, etc.).

• It connects language form to social purpose.

• In CLIL or literacy instruction, SFL shows how students can use language to express scientific, historical, or mathematical thinking.

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📘 Example:

In the article you asked about, SFL was used to guide students in understanding:

• What a scientific report looks like,

• How to define and classify scientific concepts using proper structures,

• How to move from simple phrases to full, genre-appropriate texts.