Language, Learning, and Teaching By: Marisol Barraza Source: Brown, D. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching.

Learning a Second Language Learning a new language Learning a new culture A new way of thinking A new way of feeling A new way of acting Long and complex undertaking

Sucess Sending & Receiving Messages in a L2 Total Commitment Response Physical Intellectual Emotional Involvement

L2 LEARNING COURSES Inadequate on their own Facilitate learning a L2 Success is possible: Teachers know what/how/ why variables affect learning a L2. Long and complex undertaking

Group Discussion At the beginning of this chapter, a Number of categories of questions About L2 acquisition are described, with numerous specific questions in each category. In small groups, try to generate some possible answers to selected questions. To personalize your responses, include examples from the learning experiences of members of your group. To understand the principles of language learning Answers should begin with : It depends Depends from learner to learner and moment to moment

The L2 Teacher Needs to understand the principles of language learning and teaching. Needs to understand the many aspects of the process of L2 learning. Understanding of how learners learn, determines: Teaching style Approach Methods Classroom techniques Long and complex undertaking

DEFINITIONS Teaching style Individual teachers' distinctive or characteristic manners of teaching.

DEFINITIONS Approach Theoretical positions and beliefs about the nature of language, the nature of language learning, and the applicability of both to pedagogical settings. Describes how people acquire their knowledge of the language and makes statements about the conditions which will promote successful language learning.

DEFINITIONS Methods A generalized set of classroom specifications for accomplishing linguistic objectives.  Method is an overall plan for the orderly presentation of language material.

DEFINITIONS Classroom techniques Any of a wide variety of exercises, activities, or devices used in the language classroom for realizing lesson objectives. Techniques must be consistent with a method, and therefore in harmony with an approach as well

Their Relationship For approach, method, and technique, which determines which? ‡Approach determines method Method determines technique The organizational key is that techniques carry out a method which is consistent with an approach

LANGUAGE What is LANGUAGE? Language is systematic Language is a set of arbitrary symbols. Those symbols are primarily vocal, but may also be visual. The symbols have conventionalized meaning to which they refer. Language is used for communication. Language operates in a speech community or culture. Language is essentially human, although possibly not limited to humans. Language is acquired by all people in much the same way; language and language learning both have universal characteristics.

L2 TEACHER Understanding of the components of language determine how you will teach a language Language and cognition Writing systems Nonverbal communication Sociolinguistics First language acquisition Long and complex undertaking

LEARNING What is LEARNING? Learning is acquisition or ¨getting¨. Learning is retention of information or skill. Retention implies storage systems, memory, cognitive organization. Learning involves active, conscious focus on and acting upon events outside or inside the organism. Learning is relatively permanent but subject to forgetting. Learning involves some form of practice, perhaps reinforced practice. Learning is a change in behavior.

TEACHING What is TEACHING? Guides learning Facilitates learning Enables the learner to learn Sets the conditions for learning Long and complex undertaking

THEORY OF TEACHING Integrated with your understanding of the learner and the subject will allow you to choose the best procedure for the learners and context. Long and complex undertaking

Schools of Thought in Second Language Learning Source: Brown, D. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. (p.p.9-15) Long and complex undertaking

Trends in Linguistics and Psychology 1940’s-1950’s: Structural Linguistics -1960’s: Transformational-Generative School Psychology 1940’s-1950’s: Behaviorism/ Neobehaviorism -1960’s: Cognitive Psychology

Structural Linguistics 1940’s-1950’s Behaviorism -It focused only on publicly observable behaviors Structural Linguistics -Only observable linguistic behaviors can be studied. -Language could be dismantled into small pieces or units, described scientifically, contrasted, then added up again to form the whole.

Structural Linguistics Cont’d Behaviorism -Notions such as intuition, memory, thinking, or any mental processes were ignored. Structural Linguistics -Notions such as meaning or thought were completely ignored.

Cont’d Behaviorism -Learning a behavior: through conditioning ‘organisms’ to respond in desired ways to stimuli --} Practice/ drilling is important. Structural Ling. -Learning language: conditioning learners to make the right connection between stimuli and the desired responses Drilling in the language classroom was a dominant method.

Cont’d Behaviorism -Reinforcement (Positive or negative) plays an important role in learning. Structural Ling. -Positive/ negative reinforcement play a significant role in language learning.

Transformational-Generative Linguistics The 1960’s - 1980’s Cognitive Psychology -Meaning, understanding, and knowing are important psychological data. Transformational-Generative Linguistics -They broke away from the structuralists’ insistence on only studying observable language (performance)

Cont’d Cognitive Psychology -Cognitivists sought to discover underlying motivation and deeper structures of human behavior. Transformational-Generative Linguistics -Linguistics goes beyond mere description of the surface structure of language.

Cont’d Cognitive Psychology -Instead of focusing on the mechanical stimulus-response connections, cognitivists tried to focus on psychological principles of organization and functioning. Transformational-Generative Linguistics -Studying competence reveals the hidden level of meaning and thought (deep structure) that generates the observable performance. -learning language: language is species-specific; it is innate: human beings are born with the ability to learn language.

The 1980’s – 2000’s Constructivism It involves the integration of linguistic, psychological, and sociological paradigms. The active role of the learner is emphasized. A. Cognitive constructivism: emphasizes the role of the learner in constructing his/her own representation of reality:

Constructivism -Learners must transform complex information to make it their own. A more active role for students in their learning. Piaget argues that, “learning is a developmental process that involves change, self-generation, and construction, each building on prior experiences.” (in Kaufman, 2004).

Constructivism Social Constructivism: emphasizes the importance of social interaction and cooperative learning in constructing cognitive and emotional images of reality. Language learning is a result of thinking and meaning-making that is “socially constructed and emerges out of [learners’] social interactions with the environment.” (Brown, p. 13) Research of linguistics and psychology All 3 positions must be seen as important in creating balanced descriptions of SLA

What is the Best Theory? No single theory is right or wrong all the way!

GROUP DISCUSSION Looking back at the three schools of thought described in this chapter, in a small group, suggest some examples of activities in the language classroom that would be derived from each of the perspectives.

Language Teaching Before the 20th century Goal: Reading in a foreign language Classical Method was adopted for teaching foreign languages (Grammar Translation Method) Focus on grammar rules, memorization of vocabulary, conjugations, translation and written exercises.

GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD CHARACTERISTICS Classes taught in L1; little use of L2 Vocabulary taught in lists and isolated Grammar explanation, memorization Reading classical text early Grammar analysis of text Translation 0 attention to pronunciation Popular because it requires few specialized skills from the teacher

20th CENTURY Methods Grammar Translation Method Direct Method The Audiolingual Method Community Language Teaching The Silent Way Suggestopedia Total Physical Response The Natural Approach http://www.englishraven.com/methodology.html ECLECTIC APPROACH

21 Century Method –Approach Communicative Language Teaching (approach) Eclectical blend of previous methods Teaching students to communicate genuinely, spontaneously, and meaningfully in the L2 http://www.englishraven.com/method_communicative.html

GROUP DISCUSSION At the end of the chapter, twentieth-century language teaching methodology is described as one that evolved into an approach rather than a specific accepted method, with the Direct Method and Audiolingual Method cited as examples of the latter. What is the difference between approach and method?