LANGUAGE LEARNING THEORIES: origin

Comparing Theories of Languange Acquisition

An analysis of Nativist, Cognitive and Psychlogical approaches

Alicia Marina Marín Cervera

START

LANGUAGE LEARNING THEORIES: origin

In 1950

APPLIED LINGUISTICS try to ameliorate social problems involving language in the real world with real situations.

LANGUAGE THEORIES

• NATIVISM

• BEHAVIOURISM

• COGNITIVISM

• CONSTRUCTIVISM

• SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

GENERATIVE LINGUISTICS---> Central interest: LANGUAGE PROBLEMS

BEHAVIOURISM: OPERANT CONDITIONING

Retrieved from: https://www.communicationtheory.org/b-f-skinners-theory-of-operant-conditioning/

Child= blank slate to fill--> TABULA RASA

Language is "put into" child's brain through repetition, mimicry and memory: AUDIOLINGUAL METHOD

MOST USED LANGUAGE METHOD AT THAT TIME

Skinner (1938)

PUNISHMENT: The incorrect language behaviour is punished so the child will stop reproducing it

REINFORCEMENT: The correct language behaviour is reinforced so the child will reproduce it again

+ ifo

NATIVISM: INNATIVISM, The critical period

HUMANS ARE PRE-WIRED GENETICALLY FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING

UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR: Linguistic structure is innate to humansAll human languages share UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES

Noam Chomsky (1957)

Opposed to Behaviourism

After this period: DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE LANGUAGE

DURING A CRITICAL PERIOD

CRITICISM OF Nativism

KIDS CAN ACQUIRE ANY LANGUAGE WHEN EXPOSED DURING THE CRITICAL PERIOD

Downplays the role of - Social interaction - Environment

NATIVISM: MONITOR THEORY

INFLUENCED BY CHOMSKY

Affective filter hypothesis: Affection influences acquiring the language input. If bored/tired, the learner might filter out the input

DEVELOPS THE MONITOR THEORY CONSISTING IN 5 HYPOTHESES

Input hypothesis: Acquisition takes place when exposed to a higher level input than the one already acquired

Stephen Krashen (1982)

Natural order hypothesis: Second language acquisition has predictable sequences. Not always the easiest features are the first to be learnt

Acquisition-learning hypothesisTo Acquire: UNCONSCIOUS attention to language form To Learn: CONSCIOUS attention to form and rule learning

Monitor hypothesis:Speaker monitors its own speech trying to produce correct language and has learnt the relevant rules

COGNITIVISM- CONSTRUCTIVISM

Language acquisition occurs at the same time and interwoven with other aspects of development: cognition, motricity, sensory, etc.Focuses on the development: 4 stages: sensory-motor, Preoperational, concrete operational Formal operational

OPPOSED TO NATIVISM AND UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR: Grammar isn't a set of rules but instances of speech full of meaning Language isn't completely innate and is not contaminated by non-linguistic influences

J. Piaget (1929)

It requires some level of cognitive effort

Stronger cognitive abilities enhance language acquisition

- Storing info - Integrating info - Retrieving info - Problem solving- Memory

CONSTRUCTIVISM

PIAGET is also a constructivist as well as Lev Vygotsky

Language acquisiton: dialogue-driven process that evolves over timeFocus on social nature of learning and culture

Learners actively construct their understanding based on

- Experiences - Interactions - Social contexts

SOCIOCULTURAL THEORY: VYGOTSKY

SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT

Lev Vygotsky (1978)

LANGUAGE= SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURAL INTEGRATION Children learn language within a cultural context that influences their vocabulary, expressions, and communicative practices

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS provide critical opportunities for practicing language skills, enhancing understanding, and facilitating meaningful communication

SCAFFOLDING: Support given to learner (prompting, questioning, guided interactions)

ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT: refers to the distance between what learners can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance. Effective language happens in this zone

Thanks for your attention

¿Tienes una idea?

Con las plantillas de Genially podrás incluir recursos visuales para dejar a tu audiencia con la boca abierta. También destacar alguna frase o dato concreto que se quede grabado a fuego en la memoria de tu público e incluso embeber contenido externo que sorprenda: vídeos, fotos, audios... ¡Lo que tú quieras!