CHAPTER

Language, Learning and Teaching

1.1. The nature of language 1.2. Language Learning and Teaching 1.3. Linguistics and Psychology

1.4. Theories and Methods

1.1. The Nature of Human Language

When we study human language, we are approaching what some might call the human essence, the distinctive qualities of mind that are, so far as we know , unique to man.

- Noam Chomsky, Language and Mind

Language ,Learning and Teaching

What is Language? The possession of language perhaps more than any other attribute, distinguishes humans from other animals.

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Units of language Words-letters and sounds

in English, there is a relatively weak relationship between the spelling of a word and its pronunciation
Thorough Ough enough

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Words and morphemes

I have a cat. 2. She likes cats. 3. I love her. 4. We loved each other very much.
1.

Morphemes are the most elemental unit of grammatical form (linguistic term).

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Morphemes: The Minimal Units of Meaning

They gave it me,Humpty Dumpty continued, for an un-birthday present. I beg your pardon? Alice said with a puzzled air. Im not offended, said Humpty Dumpty. I mean, what is an un-birthday present? A present given when it isnt your birthday, of course.

- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking -Glass

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Free Morpheme and Bound Morpheme

WORD unhappy gentleness disclose un-ness disBound Free happy gentle close

Free morpheme can stand alone while the bound morpheme must be attached to another morpheme to have its sense.
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How many morphemes are there in these words?

1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

Teacher Postgraduate Unselfish Misunderstand relocation

2 2 3 2 3

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Syntax: The way in which words combine into sentences

Minute a just Just a minute.

me give you a hand can Can you give me a hand?

Part of an ELTs job is to help learners to combine these words effectively.

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FORM, FUNCTION, CONTEXT AND MEANING

Kindly analyze the form and function of the following exchange.

James: Do you mind if I open the window? Sonia: Well, actually I am really cold.

Context- the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs : environment, setting -Merriam-Webster

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Spoken and Written Language

Look at the following pieces of language. Do you think they were originally written or spoken? It is with pleasure that we offer you the post of research assistant. 2. Look, I know you mean well, but the thing is we this isnt what I want. 3. Having interviewed over fifty people who live in the region, it seems that we would have to conclude that there is lack of support for the project. 4. Everyone you ask around here will tell you, theyll tell you, we dont want it.
1.
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1.2. Language Learning and Teaching

The nature of language learning

Learners are not empty vessels ready to be filled with the teachers knowledge. The more that learners are involved in working out patterns for themselves , the better those patterns will be learned. teachers to provide examples, ask appropriate questions and try to guide learners to discover things for themselves.
Language ,Learning and Teaching

1.2. Language Learning and Teaching

The nature of language teaching

The teachers job is to help learners to learn effectively, or to facilitate learning. Teaching cannot be defined apart from learning; to satisfy the practical demands of education, theories of learning must be stood on their head so as to yield theories of teaching. (Nathan Gage(1964:269)
Language ,Learning and Teaching

1.3. Linguistics and Psychology

Is language a set of habits or a system of internalized rules? Schools of thought in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Structuralism/Behaviorism Rationalism & Cognitive Psychology Constructivism
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Structuralism/Behaviorism
Time Frame: Early 1900s, 1940s &

1950s Also known as structural or descriptive and empiricist school of linguistics Advocates: Leonard Bloomfield, Edward Sapir, Charles Hockett, Charles Fries, and others
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Structuralism/Behaviorism
CHARACTERISTICS:

Behaviorists saw learning as behavior or change

through habit formation. - Language is a subset of learned behaviors, so language learning was seen as being similar to any other kind of learning. Behaviorist or connectionist learning theories describe and explain behaviors using an SRmodel. A connection is established between a stimulus (S) and the organisms response (R) to the stimulus.
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Skinner (1957) experiment/Skinners Box:1st Language Acquisition

Skinner defined the notion of reinforcement

- Positive reinforcement: an increase in the probability of occurrence of a response to a stimulus as a result of the fact that this response, being corrected is rewarded. - Negative reinforcement: a decrease in the probability of occurrence as a result of the fact that this response, being wrong, is punished In other words, humans are exposed to many things in their environment. So the response they give to such stimuli will be reinforced if successful and will become a habit or if unsuccessful be abandoned (habit-formation & shaping behavior)
Language ,Learning and Teaching

Skinner (1957) experiment/Skinners Box:1st Language Acquisition

First and second language acquisition (SLA) apply

the basic principles: imitation, practice, reinforcement/feedback and habit formation following stimulus-response. By imitating & repeating the same structures, a person can learn a language. Since the first language L1 acts as the base for the second language L2., the first language can interfere with L2 learning. Elements that are similar in L1 and L2 will be easy to learn; those that are different will be difficult to learn.
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Rationalism & Cognitive Psychology

Time Frame: 1960s and 1970s Also known as generative-transformational school of linguistics

- Advocate: Noam Chomsky

CHARACTERISTICS: They not only described languages, but they also wanted to arrive at an explanatory level of adequacy in the study of language. In simple words, they are not only interested in : - What happened? ( describing ) - Why did it happen? (explaining )
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Constructivism/Creative Construction Hypothesis

Time Frame: 1980s, 1990s and early 2000 Advocates: Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky

CHARACTERISTICS: This school focuses on individuals engaged in social practices, on collaborate group ., [or] on global community Concentrated on topics such as: conversational discourse, sociocultural factors in learning, cooperative group learning, interlanguage variables, and interactionist theories.
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1.4. Theories and Methods

The Grammar Translation Method Latin was taught of what has been called the Classical method: focus on grammatical rules, memorization of vocabulary and of various declensions and conjugations, translation of texts, doing written exercise .
.

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The Grammar Translation Method

PRATOR AND CELCE-MURCIA (1979:3) GTM CHARACTERISTICS: Classes are taught in the mother tongue, with little active use of the target language. Much vocabulary is taught in the form of lists isolated words. Long elaborate explanations of the intricacies of grammar are given. Grammar provides the rules for putting words together, and instruction often focuses on the form and inflection of words
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1. 2. 3.

4.

The Direct Approach

The Direct Approach/Method was an answer to grammar translation method , emphasizing natural dialogue in the L2; as it is a method based on immersion, the direct approach never uses the L1.

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Ashers Total Physical Response

TPR method is a technique that uses body movements to facilitate language learning. For example, the teacher opens a textbook as he gives the command Open your books to his students in the L2.

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Chomskys Theory on Language Development in Children

1. Acquisition vs. Learning Stephen Krashen popularized the distinction between acquisition (the natural, constructive process through which we know and use a language) and learning ( a formal, non-constructive process). Your great-grandparents, for example might have acquired but did not learn English after they came to the United States. By contrast, your daughter might be learning but not acquiringSpanish at her middle school.
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Chomskys Theory on Language Development in Children

1. Critical Period Hypothesis CHP contends that there is an optimal window of time during which anyone can learn an L1 (or an L2) to normal, nativelike levels, according to University of Texas professor David Birdsong. After this period is over, the ability to acquire language to native levels decreases. L2 acquisition before the age of 6
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Krashens Comprehensible Input

In order for a student to progress

naturally in the L2, the input must be slightly more complex than what he comfortably understands (L+1)

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LED 420 PROFESSOR: Dr. Flora Canare DISCUSSANT: Maria Ariza C. Roque