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1st and 2nd Language Acquisition

This document discusses different theories of first and second language acquisition: behavioral, cognitive, and socio-cultural. Behavioral theory views language acquisition as conditioned responses to environmental stimuli. Cognitive theory sees it as acquiring and processing information and knowledge. Socio-cultural theory stresses the role of social interaction and culture. The document also asks about similarities and differences between first and second language acquisition, and the effectiveness of teaching strategies like immersion and highlighting universal grammar.

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382 views2 pages

1st and 2nd Language Acquisition

This document discusses different theories of first and second language acquisition: behavioral, cognitive, and socio-cultural. Behavioral theory views language acquisition as conditioned responses to environmental stimuli. Cognitive theory sees it as acquiring and processing information and knowledge. Socio-cultural theory stresses the role of social interaction and culture. The document also asks about similarities and differences between first and second language acquisition, and the effectiveness of teaching strategies like immersion and highlighting universal grammar.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kristen Scala

Prof Berner
EDF 4467
July 19th, 2020
1st and 2nd Language Acquisition
Compare each of the different theory perspectives on 2nd Language Acquisition
(behavioral, cognitive, socio-cultural) and cite from each article at least one time.
This should be at least 200 words (3-4 paragraphs).
Behavioral theory is based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through
conditioning, whether it’s intentional or unintentional. Conditioning usually occurs
through interaction with your environment. Behavioral theorists usually believe that our
responses to environmental stimuli shapes our actions.
Cognitive theory is an approach to psychology that aims to explain human behavior by
understanding the thought processes. Cognitive theorists assume that thoughts are the
primary determinants of behavior and emotions. Cognitive theory wholeheartedly rejects
behaviorism, which is another approach to psychology, on the basis that it reduces
complex human behavior to simple cause and effect reasoning.
Socio-cultural theory is a prominent theory in psychology that looks at the significant
contributions that society makes to individual development. This theory stresses the
interaction between developing people and the culture that the people live in.
Behavioral theorists consider approaches learning as a behavior. The behavior is
observable and can also be measured. Cognitive approaches explain learning as the
acquisition of knowledge and the processing of information. Social Learning Theory
recognizes a difference between acquisition and performance of behavior. On the other
hand, behaviorism argues that performance and learning are correlated, and a behavior
has only been learned if it has been used.

List a concept from each of the 5 video clips that you found most interesting.
1. Language acquisition takes place when we understand the language that people
are speaking to us in. Subconsciously, automatically, and indefinitely – “The
ability to speak a language is a result of language acquisition, not its cause”
2. Using the outside world is the best way to receive comprehensible input. Which
makes sense since many of our languages are influenced by what we see and
hear in the world that surrounds us.
3. Language is what sets us apart from other living things on this planet, like
animals and plants. “The mind is a blank slate on which experience writes” -John
Locke
I had never thought about the difference in living things in that way, sure animals
can communicate with each other, but not the way humans do. We are able to
learn other languages and interact through more than one language.
4. Universal grammar is the notion that there’s some underlying sets of
characteristics that are true of all languages across the world. All human
languages have a way to make something negative, positive, or ask a question.
5. If a child is exposed to 2 languages early in life, then they’ll utilize their identical
brain tissue that they would utilize if they were only learning one. But, if they’re
exposed to another language later in life, then other parts of the brain would
interfere.

Which facets of first and second language acquisition do you believe are the
most similar?
One of the most similar stages that first and second language learners share is the
silent stage in which the learners take in the environment around them and learn
through listening. Some argue that for second language learners, this silence is
because they lack comprehension while others argue that they will still learn from their
surroundings, I think that both arguments could be affecting the way that they are
learning. Another facet that is similar is that the learners can learn a lot from being
immersed in the environment where the language is spoken. This is of course true for
first language learners during the developmental period and can also be true for second
language learners who know the basics of another language and who can willingly be
immersed in the culture. Being immersed in another culture will allow for the students to
pick up culture, conversational language, and academic language at a faster rate.

Which do you believe are the most different? Do you believe it is easier for
young children to learn multiple languages? Why or why not?
In first language acquisition, the basis for learning is universal grammar alone. In
second language acquisition, knowledge of the first language also serves as a basis for
learning the second language. As someone who took a forgeign language in
highschool, I know first hand that it is very difficult to pick up a second language as a
young adolescent. Therefore, I believe it’s easier for children to learn multiple languages
when they are young because learning language is a part of their brain chemistry and
our brains are more open to new sounds and words before adolescence.

If you were coaching a foreign language teacher, what are three teaching
strategies you would encourage them to use and why?
The three strategies I would consider to be the most important are making the class
discuss the environment and the culture that the language is associated with in order to
gain an appreciation of those who are native speakers, recognizing and praising
students who pay attention and properly recite the language or at least try to recite it,
and explaining the concept of Universal Grammar to the students, focusing on the
similarities that all languages share and having the students recognize those similarities
between the second language and their native one.

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