'Theory of learning' - Approaches and Methods, chptr 2 pt 32 Flashcards
What do the theories on the nature of language learning (models: cognitive model, structual model etc) provide?
Theories on the nature of language learning (models) provide the foundation for different methods, and all methods, whether explicitly or implicitly, reflect a theory of language learning. Explicitly: The method clearly states its underlying principles. Implicitly: The method’s underlying principles are based on a theory, without directly stating it.
What do language learning theories (models: cognitive model, structual model etc) account for (explain or provide insight into)?
Language learning theories (models: cognitive model, structural model, etc.) account for (explain or provide insight into) the cognitive, personal, interpersonal, and social processes learners make use of in second language learning.
Explain the cognitive, personal, interpersonal, and social processes learners make use of in second language learning.
CHATGPT:
Cognitive processes: Mental activities involved in learning, such as, perception, attention, memory, problem-solving and language comprehension.
Personal processes: Individual factors, e.g., self-reflection, motivation, and individual learning strategies)
Interpersonal processes: Interactions with others, e.g., group interactions like conversations, cooperation, collaboration, and feedback.
Social processes: The influence of society and culture on language use and learning. (e.g., broader dynamics such as cultural norms, peer pressure, and group collaboration)
What are assumed in different language teaching methods in different language teaching methods?
What is meant by assumed in?
General theories of learning (like behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism) are assumed in different language teaching methods.
“Assumed in” means that these general learning theories (like behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism) are implicitly or explicitly taken as the foundation or beliefs when designing language teaching methods.
What has research on second language acquisition led to?
Research on second language acquisition has led to a rich and diverse set of theories to explain how languages are learned.
What do different teaching methods draw on?
Different teaching methods draw on various learning theories (like behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism), often incorporating more than one.
What are some learning theories?
Learning theories include: …
Learning theories include behaviorism, cognitive-code learning, the creative-construction hypothesis, skill learning, interaction theory, constructivism, social learning theory (or social constructivism), and the role of individual factors in language learning.
1) What is Behaviorism?
It is the view that …
-…
-…
2) The theory was the basis for what method?
The theory was the basis for…
- Language was taught through…
1)
It is the view that learning is the process of in which behaviours are a acquired in response to stimuli.
- Correct responses are reinforced and increase the chance of the behaviour becoming learned (Skinner 1957).
- Learning involves habit formation through repetition and reinforcement
2)
Theory basis for Audiolingual Method
- Language was taught through drilling and repetition exercises and activites that minimized the chance of making mistakes.
Cognitive-code Learning
1) When was it developed and what is it an alternative to?
2) What did it emphasise?
3) What does it depend on?
4) What is it linked to?
1) developed in 1960s as an alternative to behaviorism
2) Emphasized that language learning was a cognitive process depending on:
- both deductive and inductive learning as well as meaningful practice.
- Students are taught grammatical rules which they then apply in practice.
3) Learning depends on cognitive processing and mental effort.
4) PPP approach (Presentation-Practice-Production) used in Situational Language Teaching can be linked to Cognitive-code Learning, as well as methods such as the Silent Way.
Creative-construction hypothesis
1) When was the theory first proposed and as an alternative to what?
2) What is the theory still implicit in?
3) What is the theory?
1) Theory first proposed in 1970’s as an alternative to behaviourism
2) Theory still implicit in current theories of second language acquisition
3)
- Learning is not simply a question of reproducing input
but a creative process that has common features regardless of learner’s language background. This accounts for similarities seen in the language produced by linguistically diverse second language learners.
What is skill learning?
1) What is the definition?
2) What are the stages?
Individual Components:
- Complex tasks are broken down into…
Hierarchy of Skills:
- Language performance is built through…
Controlled Processing:
- At first, learners …
Automatic Processing:
- With practice and exposure…
3) What is its application to language learning?
1) Definition: Involves learning sets of behaviours through practice.
2)
Individual Components:
- Complex tasks are broken down into smaller sub-skills (e.g., vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation) that are integrated into a full performance (e.g., making a presentation in English).
Hierarchy of Skills:
- Language performance is built through sub-skills that progress from simple to complex.
Controlled Processing:
- At first, learners consciously manage and direct their performance
Automatic Processing:
- With practice and exposure, learners no longer need to think about each step—they can perform tasks automatically (e.g., speaking fluently without thinking of grammar rules).
The Development Process:
- Learning involves progressing from controlled processing to automatic processing as tasks become more familiar.
3) Application to Language Learning:
- Many language teaching methods view language as a skill-based process, refined through practice and repetition.
Interactional theory
1) What does this theory argue?
2) What is central to this view of learning?
3) How will competent speakers modify their voice?
4) To summarise what facilitates learning and understanding?
5) What is the role of the isntructor?
6) What ___ methods (?!) reflect aspects of Interactional theory?
1) This theory argues that:
Learning is an interactive process and depends on learners working together to achieve a mutual understanding.
2) Central to this view of learning is:
the concept of negotiation of meaning – the modification of input learners receive when they communicate with more advanced learners or native speakers and the kind of feedback they receive from their interlocutors.
3) More competent speakers will typically modify their input by:
-Using know vocabulary,
-speaking more slowly,
-saying things in different ways,
-adjusting the topic,
-avoiding idioms,
-using a slower rate of speech,
-using stress on key words,
-repeating key parts,
-using simpler grammatical structures,
-paraphrasing and elaborating,
-and so on.
4) Modified input facilitates understanding and learning.
5) The role of the instructor is to support these interactive processes
The processes teach the language
6) Both Communicative Language Teaching and Task-Based Language Teaching reflect aspects of interactional theory.
Constructivism
1) Constructivism views learning as what?
2) What are some beliefs?
3) It has had a powerful influence on what?
4) Whose work does it draw on?
5) Constructivist theories of learning are seen in concepts such as: what?
6) Also seen in which methods (!?!)?
1) Rather than viewing learning as passive and absorbing external knowledge and making it part of one’s own understanding (through transmission), learning results from the learners’ internal construction of meaning.
2)
- The learner is connected to the meaning they construct through experience, whether from learning activities or interactions within the community of learners.
- Emphasizes that learners are actively involved in their own process of learning.
- Dynamic process that has both:
-i) cognitive dimensions: the learner organises new knowledge on the basis of existing knowledge
ii) Social dimensions: the learner interacts with others and solves problems through dialogue (this latter view is referred to as sociocultural learning theory)
- Constructivism approaches to learning emphasize student-centred and project based learning
3) It has had a powerful influence on education and on theories of second language learning
4) Draws on work of Jean Piaget, John Dewey (child development) as well as Lev Vygotsky
5) Constructivist theories of learning are seen in concepts such as: restructuring,schema theory, and scaffolding
6) Also seen in Communicative Language Teaching, Community Language Learning, Cooperative Language Learning and Whole Language.
Sociocultural learning theory (also known as social constructivism)
1) It is an extension of what other theories?
2) How does it view language?
3) What does ‘Sociocultural’ mean?
4) what are some principles?
5) What plays an important part? How?
6) What teaching proposals, attribute an important role to the process of s_____ learning?
1) Extension of both constructivism and interactional theory
2) Views language learning as resulting from dialogue between a learner and a more knowledgeable other person
3) ‘Sociocultural’ means that learning takes place in a social setting (e.g., classroom) through interaction between people (teachers and students) and objects (texts, books, images), through culturally organised activities and events (instructional acts and sequences
4)
- Learning is the process of guided participation, directed by someone more knowledgeable.
-Through repeated participation in a variety of joint activities, the novice gradually develops new knowledge and skills
5)
-‘scaffolding’ play an important part
-In the classroom ‘scaffolding’ is the process of interaction between two or more people as they carry out classroom activities and where one person (e.g. teacher or another learner)has more advanced knowledge than the other (the learner)
- During the process interaction proceeds as a kind of joint problem-solving activity between teacher and student.
- Collaborative dialogue ‘scaffolds’ the learning process by initially providing suport (the ‘scaffold’) and gradually removing support as learning develops.
6) Many current teaching proposals, such as CLIL and text-based and task-based instruction, attribute (recognise as important/give credit to ) an important role to the process of scaffolded learning.
What does ‘culturally organised’ mean in this sentence?
‘Sociocultural’ means that learning takes place in a social setting (e.g., classroom) through interaction between people (teachers and students) and objects (texts, books, images), through culturally organised activities and events (instructional acts and sequences
Chatgpt:
“Culturally organised” means that the way learning activities are planned and done depends on the culture or environment.
For example:
In one classroom, students may work together in groups to solve a problem (this reflects a culture that values collaboration).
In another classroom, students may listen to the teacher explain and take notes (this reflects a culture that values teacher-led instruction).
Basically, the activities aren’t random—they are shaped by how people in that environment think learning should happen.
Individual factors
1) The attributes individual learners bring to language learning can have what?
2) Attributes include:
3) What do teaching methods take into account and what do they address and how?
4) Methods may also seek to develop and guide learners’ of what?
1) The attributes individual learners bring to language learning can also have an important influence on learning
2) Attributes include:
i) Learning style preferences (such as whether a learner likes to learn alone or in groups)
ii) Affective factors (such as shyness anxiety, entusiamsm and other emotions that language learning may elicit and that may influence the learner’s: attitude, desire, interest in, and willingness to invest effort in second language learning
iii) Learning strategies – the ways which learners a) plan b) manage c) evaluate their own language development over time and identify areas that need improvement. (strategies discussed in chapter 19)
3)
- Teaching methods often take into account these attributes.
- Methods may seek to address individual learning factors by attempting to match teaching strategies to learning styles by:
i) Enhancing motivation through choice of content that is of high interest value or relevance (as with Content-Based Instruction)
ii) Delaying speaking and focusing on comprehension in an introductory language course in order to address the issue of anxiety (as in the Natural Approach)
iii) Using group-based learning for those that prefer learning in groups ( as with Cooperative Language Learning)
5) Methods may also seek to develop and guide learners’ use of particular learning strategies (as seen in Task-Based Language Teaching)
Chatgpt! check the question: what are the two different kinds of theory that influence approaches and methods?
Explain both theories and give examples
Can a theory be both?? i dont know chatgpt say yes. hhhmmm
1) Linguistic theory and learning theory.
2) Linguistic theory is indeed the theory of language. It deals with how language works, including its structure, rules, and how it conveys meaning.
Linguistic theory covers various aspects of language, such as:
-Syntax (structure of sentences)
-Semantics (meaning of words and sentences)
-Phonology (sounds of language)
-Morphology (structure of words)
….
In short, linguistic theory explains the fundamental nature of language itself and how different components of language interact.
….
Learning theory refers to how language is learned—the psychological and cognitive processes involved in acquiring language. This includes theories such as:
-Behaviorism (learning through external stimuli and reinforcement)
-Cognitivism (learning through mental processes like memory and problem-solving)
-Constructivism (learning as an active process of building knowledge)
These learning theories explain how people acquire language and influence methods that are designed for teaching language.
…
The Cognitive model can be considered a linguistic theory. It is a theory that explains how language works and how it is learned through mental processes like memory, problem-solving, and internal representation of language.
The most prominent cognitive theory in linguistics is Chomsky’s Universal Grammar (UG), which suggests that humans have an innate, universal system in the brain that helps them learn language.
The cognitive model is both a linguistic theory (about how language is structured) and a learning theory (about how we acquire language through mental processes).
