Module 1 - Core Lanuage Theories & Methods Flashcards
3 Theories of Language Acquisition
-
Behaviorist - Skinner
Language is an acquired behavior -
Cognitive/Mentalist - Chomsky
Language is a set of rules to learn -
Humanism - Maslow
Focus on the student
Behaviorist Theory of Language Acquisition
- Imitation
- Repetition
- Correction (Positive and Negative Reinforcement)
Cognitive/Mentalist Theory of Language Acquisition
- Hypothesizing
- Trial and error
- Creativity
- Mistakes are positive
Humanism Theory of Language Acquisition
Learner needs basic needs met, including self-esteem and self-actualization
- Learning Types
- Personalization
- Personal Goals
What language learning methodologies have been influenced by the Humanism Theory of language acquisition?
- Focus on different learning types
- Personalization activities
- Learner- centered learning
- Fluency over accuracy
- Fun engaging materials
Example:
Learners analyze sentences using different past tenses and decide why they are used.
(Language acquisition theory)
Cognitive/Mentalist
because primarily analysis
Example:
Students listen to a teacher model a sentence and repeat it.
Behaviorism
because listen/repeat/imitation
and not analysis
Example:
A teacher chooses a text about football because they know the students will like it.
Humanism
because focused on learner interests
Example:
A school decorates its classrooms with colorful murals and posters.
Humanism
because promoting student engagement and promoting learning environment
Example:
A teacher praises her student for providing the correct answer.
(Language acquisition theory)
Behaviorist
because focus on accuracy
Students speak on a topic, giving their opinion, not worrying about mistakes.
(Language acquisition theory)
Cognitive/Mentalist
because mistakes are positive signs of experimentation
Primary Language Learning Models
- Grammar-Translation
- The Direct Method
- Audio-Lingual
- Situational Language Teaching
- The Communicative Approach
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Grammar-Translation Method
Students are poor at practical tasks and have limited speaking skills
But have good passive grammar knowledge and fairly accurate writing skills
Principles of the Direct Method
- Students should be taught in foreign language
- Strong emphasis on speaking
The Grammar-Translation Method
- Students translate model sentences from first language to second language.
- Little vocabulary or context.
- Speaking by reading aloud, little communicative activities.
- How languages have traditionally been taught.
- Taught in students first language
The Direct Method Process
- spontaneous use of language encouraged
- drilling for pronunciation
- grammar induced from context
- vocabulary important
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Direct Method
- Innovative at time
- Pillars of speaking and foreign language instruction still used
_________ - Still grammatically focused
- Dialogue and language not applicable/accurate for daily use.
The Audio-Lingual Method
- Extension of Direct Method incorporating behaviorist theory of language acquisition
- Listen, Repeat, and Understand keywords and phrases
- No reference to grammar
Situational Language Teaching
- Introduce language in real-life contexts
- Meanings of words and phrases deduced from context
- Based on applied linguistics
- Uses PPP process:
Presentation, Practice, Production - Listen, Repeat - accuracy over fluency
PPP
Presentation - Introduction of new teaching item in context
Practice - Controlled practice of the item
Production - A freer practice phase
P - Presentation
Teacher introduces info for vocab
Teacher asks questions to establish context
Teacher creates model sentence from information
P - Practice
- Listen and repeat of the model sentence
- Pronunciation corrections
- Teacher analysis of grammar
- Creation of model answer
- Repeat model answer
- Practice model question and answer in pairs with teacher supervision
P - Production
- Freer practice
- Students create personal answers for teacher-led question
- Practice in pairs or groups
Applied Linguistics
Scientific disciplines analyzing word frequency, structural complexity, and real-life context.
Provides objectives on what to teach and when
