Cognitive model:

McLaughlin
 Barry Mclaughlin:
*His research interests include second-language acquisition in
adults and children.

*McLaughlin has served as consultant on bilingual matters for

the California State Department of Education and has
published numerous articles on second-language learning and
bilingualism.
*He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from St. Louis
University and did his graduate work at Harvard.

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 Acquisition - Learning
For Krashen: Acquisition= subconsciously
Learning= conscious study.

Mc Laughlin argues that the Monitor model is unreliable, because

the acquisition-learning distinction is defined in terms of
“subconscious” and “conscious” > Which are not open to
inspection.
-> Impossible empirical investigation.

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 Acquisition of language:

Cognitive theory: Behaviourist theory:

Second language acquisition as:
*Language learning as an
*Conscious and reasoned unconscious, automatic process.
thinking process, involving the
use of learning strategies for *Formation of habits.
processing information.

-McLaughlin’s Information
processing model.

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 “
“In general, the fundamental notion of the
information-processing approach to
psychological inquiry is that complex
behaviour builds on simple processes.”

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 KEY CONCEPT
Second language learning is viewed as the acquisition of a complex
cognitive skill. To learn a second language is to learn a skill> because
various aspects of the task must be practised and integrated into
fluent performance.

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Information processing model:

Two types of
Mc. Laughlin juxtaposes information processes:
processing mechanisms and controlled and
categories of attention to describe automatic.
the acquisition of language.

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 Different types of processing mechanisms
Controlled processes:
-Only a very few elements of
the skill can be retained.
-Processes limited in capacity
and temporary.
-Constrained by the
limitations of the short term
memory.
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Automatic processes:
-Processing in a more
accomplished skill.
-The brain can manage
hundreds of bits of information
simultaneously.
 Automatic processes:
:Through repeated activation, sequences first produced by controlled
processing become automatic.

*Automatized sequences are stored as units in long term memory,

which means that they can be made available vert rapidly.

*The automatizing of this multiplicity of data is accomplished by a

process of restructuring. Old components > integrated: replaced by a
more efficient procedure.

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 Learning according to McLaughlin:

Controlled Automatic
processing processing

It is necessary for simple sub-skills and routines to become

automatic before more complex ones can be tackled.

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 Fossilization
Fossilization in this model would arise as a result of a controlled
process becoming automatic before it is native-like.
*Automatic processes are difficult to modify.
*They are likely to remain in the learner's interlanguage, giving
rise to a stable but erroneous construction.

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 AttENTION
Every act of
performing

Focal
something includes
the use of focal and
Peripheral
Attention peripheral attention, Attention
they occur
simultaneously.

*Peripheral attention > language form while

*Focal attention >meaning, function purpose or person.

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Main characteristics of such an approach:

▧ Humans are viewed as autonomous and active

▧ The mind is a general-purpose,
symbol-processing system.
▧ Complex behaviour is composed of simpler
processes.
▧ Processes take time.
▧ The mind is a limited-capacity processor.

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 Thanks!
Any questions?

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