Approaches to (Second) Language Acquisition

Behaviorism (Theory)

• tabula rasa (to be filled with language material)

• children learn language by imitation;

• Stimulus (or a lack of stimulus) prompts learners to imitate

what has been heard;

• Stimulus – response

• Pavlov

• Skinner

The LAD Theory

• Chomsky;

• part of the nativist perspective;

• learners have a language acquisition device (LAD);

• a brain structure that consists of neural wiring;

• innate ability to know the structure and rules of a

language;

Innatism

• Language is acquired through an innate ability;

• Innatism lead to Universal Grammar - innate

knowledge of the rules and principles found in

every language;

• The notion of Universal Grammar may not be

applicable to second language learners.

Interactionist

• focuses on social interactions between L2 learners and the target language speakers;

• interactions give the L2 learners feedback on both correct and incorrect language usage;

• environment,; modified interaction

Critical Period Hypothesis

• Natural language acquisition – the ages of 2-12 (years old);

• Brain - – before age 2 the brain in not ready; – after the age of 12 the brain looses its plasticity;

The Critical Period Hypothesis limits both native language learning (L1) and second language learning (L2).