week 10- second langauge acquisition Flashcards
what is Second Language Acquisition
a subconscious learning process
what is Second Language Learning
involves a conscious process
What is the study of second language acquisition?
- how second languages are learned;
- how learners create a new language system with limited exposure to a second language;
- why most second language learners do not achieve the same degree of proficiency in a second language as they do in their native language; and
- why some learners appear to achieve native-like proficiency in more than one language.
what is the behaviourist perspective on acquiring language from listening or reading?
what are some problems with this?
- L2 learning involves creation of new set of habits
- Learners receive lots of input from the environment BUT need to produce language in order to receive positive reinforcement for correct repetitions… leads to good habits
- By definition, existing habits are from L1
- Errors are L1 habits interfering with acquisition of L2 habits
problems- Not all errors are from L1; creativity of language; language structure too complex to be learned on evidence alone
Krashen’s Comprehension Hypothesis/Input model
“Language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious grammatical rules, and does not require tedious drill.”
Hypotheses-THE ACQUISITION-LEARNING HYPOTHESIS: Acquisition and learning are two different processes. Acquisition is an implicit, subconscious process, like L1 acquisition. Learning is conscious and brings us explicit knowledge about language
2. THE NATURAL ORDER HYPOTHESIS: There is a natural, fixed order for acquisition of grammatical structures, morphemes, even phonology. This order is not amenable to change through instruction. Regardless of L1, L2 learners of a language make similar errors in it
3- monitor hypothesis
4- affective filter hypothesis
5- input hypothesis
what is the monitor hypothesis?
Learned explicit knowledge serves only as an editor. Acquired language is at the heart of our competence.
We only use the monitor when we have plenty of time, are focussed on accuracy and know the relevant rule.
There are monitor over–users (accurate but not fluent) and monitor under-users (fluent, inaccurate)
what is the affective filter hypothesis?
There is an imaginary barrier which may make us reject input.
If the acquirer is anxious, unmotivated or lacks confidence, the affective filter goes up.
It helps to explain differences between success rates for learners and is an attractive theory because it can be applied to the classroom
what is the input hypothesis?
Humans acquire language in only one way, by comprehending messages (input) at a slightly higher level (comprehensible input or i+1) than they are currently able to understand.
Humans can understand unacquired grammar by using context cues, world knowledge and linguistic competence.
what is FT
foreigner talk
what did DeKeyser (1997) find about skill proficiency?
Taught volunteers an artificial language. Different rules were taught by different means –through comprehension or production practice. Results: Learners only improved in the skill they practised. So comprehension skills and production skills are learned separately?
What is the interaction hypothesis?
Long, 1983
An extension of Krashen’s input hypothesis. More attention to interaction and negotiating meaning through interaction.
Focus on conversational tactics such as: repetitions, comprehension checks, clarification requests.
‘Interaction leads to more comprehension than just modified input’ Lochsky 1994
‘Giving learners a chance to produce output has a positive effect on vocabulary retention’ La Fuente 2002.
What is the output hypothesis
Swain 1985
- arose from findings from immersion education in Canada in 1960s
- learners need comprehensive output as it provides practice, allows others to observe the language that is produced and contributed to level of fluency.
- output has three functions: noticing, hypothesis testing, meta linguistic or reflective function.
