Unit 2

Question 1

What are the 3 major theories of learning?

Answer 1

• Behaviorism, cognitivism and socio-cultural (constructionist) theories.
• All of them influenced second language learning theories.

Question 2

Behavioral theories

Answer 2

• Main proponent: B.F. Skinner’s ‘Verbal Behavior’ (1957).
• Focuses on objectively OBSERVABLE BEHAVIORS, ignoring mental processes.
• Learning regarded as a HABIT FORMATION.
• They stress repetition and conditioning, learner is a passive recipient.
• Error as a deficiency, leading to contrastive analysis of transfer.

Question 3

Cognitive theories

Answer 3

• Learner viewed as and ACTIVE participant.

- Learning as a gradual process of linking new information to old knowledge.

Question 4

Socio-Cultural theories

Answer 4

• LANGUAGE is not just private and mental but a SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED phenomenon.
• LANGUAGE LEARNING is not just cognitive but social within a community of practice.

Question 5

Steven Krashen’s Monitor Model

Answer 5

Extremely influential.

5 HYPOTHESIS:

1. Acquisition v. learning.
2. Comprehensible input.
3. The monitor hypothesis.
4. The affective filter.
5. Natural Order.

Question 6

INTERLANGUAGE: origins

Answer 6

-Selinker (1972) defined it, questioning Contrastive Analysis’ conclusions.

Question 7

What does the concept interlanguage refer to? Which authors have downplayed its role?

Answer 7

• A linguistic system different from both L1 and L2. Some authors consider interlanguages to be extremely variable.
• Steven Krashen’s monitor model and Noam Chomsky’s universal grammar have downplayed its role.

Question 8

Treatment of error in language teaching

Answer 8

-Behaviorism treated it as negative effect.

In later years it came to be regarded as part of the learning process, although there’s no consensus on how to treat them.

Question 9

Difference between error and mistake.

Answer 9

• Error: incorrect use due to ignorance of some elements of the linguistic system. (Chomsky’s linguistic competence).
• Mistake: not due to lack of knowledge of the system but other factors, internal or external, such as fatigue, lack of attention or noise. (Chomsky’s performance).

Question 10

Some communicative strategies

Answer 10

• ‘Transfer’ (use of a word from L1)
• Simplification (time adverbs instead of tense. Ex. I go yesterday).
• Overgeneralization (fish instead of mackerel).
• Avoidance (of a topic).

Question 11

Attitudes towards errors

Answer 11

• Behaviorism: negative, must be punished immediately.

- Chomsky criticized Skinner’s theory. Errors as a sign of progress.

Question 12

Strategies for error correction

Answer 12

• SPOTTING THE ERROR: learner’s reflection and self-correction.
• DESCRIPTION OF THE ERROR: identify what rule was broken. Better if the student can do it and not the teacher.
• REPHRASING.