SLA theories

Gaby Olea MaED student UAB

Language Acquisition Theories

I will explore the different learning theories addressed in Magaly Lavadenz's article and how they are relevant to second language acquistion.

language learning theories

behaviorist

cognitive

sociocultural perspective

sociocultural and cognitive learning theory

Noam Chomsky's Natural Approach method

Practice

Rewards

repetition

+ example

Behaviorist theory

What exactly is it?

• response to what the learner is exposed to in their environment
• learning can be “manipulated, observed, and described” (Watson; 1919, Skinner, 1938)
• focuses on “practice, repetition, and rewards” to achieve language development (Lavadenz 19)

COGNITIVE THEORY

What exactly is it?

• Coined by Piaget, explains learning by delving deeper into the learner’s psychology which includes the learner’s “motivation, schema and other processes” (Lavadenz 20).
• Includes developmental cognitive learning and socio-constructivist learning, based on Vygotsky and Bruner’s work

sociocultural perspective

What is it?

• Coined by Vygotsky
• social interaction between language learners and more knowledgeable speakers is important for language acquisition
• Ex: children learn from each other by speaking to their classmates, and, thus, pick up their peers’ social language.

sociocultural vs cognitive learning theory

You can present the figures this way...

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Noam Chomsky's Natural Approach Method

Natural Approach to second Language Acquisition

English language learners should acquire the language as naturally as possible. Correcting their grammar could have adverse effects on their second language acquisition.

I believe that these theories are used in various ways in most classrooms to help second language acquisition for English learners.

Questions?

Thank You Very Much