L2 Theories

L2 Theories

1. The Cognitivist/developmental Perspective

   • Compares language acquisition to the capacities of computers for storing, integrating and retrieving information

2. Connectionism

   • The environment is very importante. It argues that what is innate is simply the abiliy to learn, not any specifically linguistic prinicples.

3. Interaction Hypothesis

   • Conversational interaction is an essential condition for second language acquisition. Modified interaction is the necessary mechanism for making language comprehesible

4. Mimicry and Memorization

   • Classroom activities emphasized mimicry and memorization and students learned dialogues and sentence pattern by heart.
     • CAH argues that first language and the target language are similar, learners should acquire target language structures with eases, where there are differences, learners should have a difficult time

5. The innatist Perspective: UG

   • Innate knowledge of the principles of UG, allows all children to acquire the language of their environment during a critical period of their development
     • Second languge learners may need explicit information about what is not grammatical in the second language, thats why this is not a good explanation for second language acquisition

6. Krashens Monitor Model

   • Five Hypotheses
     • Acquisition-learning Hypothesis: we aquire as we are exposed to samples of the second language and we learn through conscious attention to form and rule learning
     • Monitor Hypothesis: acts as an editor or monitor making small changes
     • Natural Order Hypothesis: the language features that are easiest to state are not necessarily the first to be acquired
     • Input Hypothesis: the acquistion occurs when one is exposed to language that is comprehensible and that contains i+1
     • Affective Filter Hypothesis: prevents learners from acquiring language even when appropriate input is available.

7. Noticing Hypothesis

   • Nothing is learned unless it has been noticed. Noticing is an essential starting point

8. Processability Theory

   • The integration of developmental sequences with first language influence