Second Language applications

Definition

Chomsky argued that innate knowledge of the principles of Universal Grammar (UG) permits all children to acquire the language of their environment during a critical period of their development.

Lydia White (2003)

Universal Grammar offers the best perspective from which to understand second language acquisition.

Second Language Learners may sometimes need explicit information about what is not grammatical in the second language.

Robert Bley-Vroman (1983) and Jacquelyn Schachter (1990)

It is not a good explanation for the acquisition of a second language, especially by learners who have passed the critical period.

Vivian Cook (2003)

Knowledge of UG must be available to second language learners as well as to first language learners.

Bonnie Schwartz (1993)

Instruction and feedback
change only the superficial appearance of language performance and do not really affect the underlying systematic knowledge of the new language.

Definition

It explains learning in terms of imitation, practice, reinforcement (or feedback on success), and habit formation

The Audio-lingual method

Students learn dialogues by heart.

Mimicry and memorization

Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis (CAH)

According to the CAH, where the first
language and the target language are similar, learners should acquire TARGET LANGUAGE structures with ease; where there are differences, learners should have difficulty.

Examples

Krashen's Monitor Model (1970)

1. Acquisition-learning hypothesis

We 'acquire' as we are exposed to samples of the second language- with no conscious attention to language form.

We 'learn' on the other hand through conscious attention to form and rule learning.

2. Monitor hypothesis

The learned system acts as an editor or'monitor', making minor changes and polishing what the acquired system has produced.

The speaker is concerned about producing correct language.

3. Natural order hypothesis

The language features that are easiest to state (and thus to learn) are not
necessarily the first to be acquired.

Even some advanced second language speakers fail to apply basic rules in spontaneous conversations.

4. Input hypothesis

Acquisition occurs when one is exposed to
language that is comprehensible and that contains words, grammatical forms, aspects of pronunciation that are just a stepbeyond that level.

5. Affective filter hypothesis

It is a metaphorical barrier that prevents learners from acquiring language even when appropriate input is avilable.

Feelings, motives, attitudes and emotional states.