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Assignment No. 1 Principle and Theories of Language Acquisition and Learning - PRELIM

The document summarizes several theories of second language acquisition: 1. Behaviorism views language as learned through imitation, repetition, and reinforcement. The Audio-Lingual method applied these behaviorist principles. 2. Chomsky argued language is innate and criticized behaviorism, positing an innate Language Acquisition Device. 3. Krashen's theory includes five hypotheses: acquisition vs learning, the Monitor Hypothesis, the Natural Order Hypothesis, the Input Hypothesis, and the Affective Filter Hypothesis. Comprehensible input and a low affective filter are necessary for acquisition.

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1K views4 pages

Assignment No. 1 Principle and Theories of Language Acquisition and Learning - PRELIM

The document summarizes several theories of second language acquisition: 1. Behaviorism views language as learned through imitation, repetition, and reinforcement. The Audio-Lingual method applied these behaviorist principles. 2. Chomsky argued language is innate and criticized behaviorism, positing an innate Language Acquisition Device. 3. Krashen's theory includes five hypotheses: acquisition vs learning, the Monitor Hypothesis, the Natural Order Hypothesis, the Input Hypothesis, and the Affective Filter Hypothesis. Comprehensible input and a low affective filter are necessary for acquisition.

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CRISSEL R.

ANTHONY PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES OF LANGUAGE AND ACQUISITION

2BSED MAAM LORETA YARTE

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

Research on the following:

1. Theories of second Language Development


2. Individual Differences in Language Acquisition

THEORIES OF SECOND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Behaviorism (1940s-1950s)

 F.B. Skinner (based on I.P. Pavlov’s research)


 Tabula Rasa (a blank slate) means there is nothing when a baby is born. Skinner said “give me a child,
and I will shape him into anything” (T.V. interview,1960)
 Behaviorism is a precursor to cognitive learning
 Language – is behavior defined as a set of habits. It can be taught/learned as any other behavior.
 Teaching- should be done through conditioning. It is a consequence determines behavior (e.g. reward or
successful communication)
 According to B.F. Skinner ‘s Behaviorist Theory, learning is the result of
a) Imitation (word-for-word repetition of someone’s else utterances)
b) Practice (repetitive manipulation of form)
c) Feedback on success (positive reinforcement)
d) Habit Formation

The Nature of Language Learning According to the Behaviorist Theory

 Language is learned through stimulus, response and reinforcement.


Audio-Lingual Method

 It was a method for teaching foreign languages popular in 1950s and 1960s.
 It is supported by the behaviorist theory of Skinner.
 It does not use mother tongue to explain vocabulary or grammar.
 Students drilled in the use of grammar in the target language.
 English is taught through discussion, conversation, and reading in the second language.
 Students learned language through a series of drills involving imitations, repetition and practice
(Richards & Rodgers,2001)

1. Behaviorism Theory
 Behaviorist view the process of child’s language acquisition in the following steps:
a) Imitation
b) Repetition
c) Memorization
d) Controlled Drilling
e) Reinforcement – Reinforcement can either be negative or positive. It will trigger general
stimulus.
Noam Chomsky and Audio-Lingual Method

 Chomsky refuted the audio-lingual method that is based on the behaviorist theory of language learning
for the following reasons:
a. It could not function as a model of how humans learn languages.
b. Learning is not imitated behavior.
c. Sentences are not learned by imitation and repetition, but “generated” from the learner’s
underlying “competence.”
d. Language is creative and generative, not a habit (Richards & Rodgers,2001).
 Language is an innate capacity. A child’s brain contains special language learning mechanism at birth.
 Every child has a “language acquisition device” (Traxler,2012)
 Children need only minimum language exposure to prime LAD.
 Human brain is ready innately for language in the sense when children are exposed to speech, certain
principles for discovering and formulating language, automatically starts to operate.

2. The LAD Theory


 Chomsky asserted that children were born with a hard-wired language acquisition device.
 Chomsky asserted that children were born with the instinct or “innate facility” for acquiring language.
 The LAD is a postulated organ in the brain supposed to function as a congenital device for language
acquisition.
 LAD encodes the major principles of language and its grammatical structure into the child’s brain.
 This theory contradicted B.F. Skinner’s Theory of behaviorism and operant conditioning.
Chomsky’s LAD THEORY
a) Primary Linguistic Data (Linguistic Input)
b) General Language Learning Principles
c) Grammatical Knowledge (Rules)
d) Child’s Speech Production

Stephen Krashen’s Theory of Second Language Acquisition

 “Language acquisition does not require extension use of conscious grammatical rules, and does not require
tedious drill.” (Stephen Krashen,1987)
 “Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target language- natural communication – in which speakers
are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the form of their utterances but with messages
they are conveying and understanding.” (Stephen Krashen,1987)

3. Krashen’s Theory of second language acquisition consists of five main hypotheses:


a) The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
b) The Monitor Hypothesis
c) The Natural Order Hypothesis
d) The Input Hypothesis
e) The Affective Filter Hypothesis

1. Learning Vs. Acquiring


 According to Krashen, there are two independent systems:
a. The acquired system is the product of a subconscious process. It requires meaningful
interaction in the target language.
b. The learned system is the product of formal instruction and learning. It involves a
conscious process which results in conscious knowledge about the target language.
2. The Monitor Hypothesis
 Conscious learning is limited in SLA.
 Acquisition has the central role.
 Learning functions as a Monitor
 The Monitor acts in planning, editing, and correcting function.
3 Specific conditions needed to use Monitor:
a. Sufficient time
b. Focus on form
c. Know the rule
 When Monitor is not used, errors are natural

3. The Natural Order Hypothesis


 The acquisition of language rules and grammatical structures follow a predictable order.
 Some grammatical rules are required early while others late.
 The order of the rules is not determined by its simplicity.
 It is independent of the learners’ age, L1 background, and conditions of exposure.
 L2 learning adults and children show similar order.

4. The Input Hypothesis


 The input hypothesis is only concerned with the acquisition, not learning.
 The L2 learners improve when they receive L2 “input”.
 “Human acquires language in only way-by understanding messages or by receiving
comprehensible input” (Krashen,1987)
 Comprehensible input: understanding of input language that contains “a bit beyond” the current
level of competence.
 Speech will emerge once the acquirer has built up enough comprehensible input (Krashen,1987)

5. The Filter Hypothesis


 It is a barrier that prevent learners from acquiring language.
 A number of attitudinal variables SLA:
a. Motivation
b. Self-Confidence
c. Anxiety

References:

 Herrera,S.G.,& Murray,K.G. (2011). Mastering ESL and Bilingual Methods. (2 nd ed.). U.S.A: Pearson Education, Inc.
 Richards, J.C., & Rodgers,T.S. (2011). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. (Online). Cambridge
Language Teaching Library. (2nd ed.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from: Cambridge Books
Online http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667305
 Krashen, Stephen D. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Prentice-Hall International,1987
 Oxford Seminar. (1992). TESOL/TESL Certification Course: Training Manual. Oxford University Press.
 Skinner, B.F. (1957). Verbal Behavior. Acton, MA: Copley Publishing Group.
 Traxler, M.J. (2011). Introduction to psycholinguistics: Understanding Language Science. Wiley – Blackwell.
Retrieved from http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-
EHEP002301.html

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