Cognitive Influences on Language Learning

Cognitive Influences on Language Learning

1. INTELLIGENCE OR THE "G"FACTOR ("g" for general)

   • Intelligence is not a determining factor on First Language Acquisition
   • Gardner (1985) Intelligence Theory: "Multiple Intelligences"
     • 1. Logico-mathematic
     • 2. Linguistic
     • 3. Spatial
     • 4. Musical
     • 5. Bodily-kinesthetic (fine motor movement, athletic prowess)
     • 6. Interpersonal (the ability to relate to others)
     • 7. Intrapersonal (the ability to relate to oneself, self-knowledge)
     • 8. Naturalistic (the ability to recognise forms/patterns in nature)
     • 9. Spiitual (the ability to relate to things of a "spiritual" nature)
   • Intelligence measured in terms of linguistic and logico-mathematical abilities. Intelligence is not a determining factor on FLA.
   • Intelligence seems to be a strong factor when it comes to learning second languages in classroom,

2. LANGUAGE APTITUDE

   • Aptitud is considered to be the "natural ability" wjhich we have to learn languages, and people possess it to varying degrees.
   • Skehan (1989:38), belives that "aptitud score corresponds with a high L2 competence
   • Caroll and Sapon´s MLTAT components in language
     • Phonemic and Phonetic ability
     • Grammar Sensitivity
     • Inductive language learning ability
     • Rote learning abiity

3. COGNITIVE STYLE

   • Refers to the manner in which learner perceives, monitors, conceptualises and recalls linguistic information
   • Considered by Brown (1973) as a combination of affect and cognition.
     • VARIABLES
       • Reflective-impulsive thinking
       • Broad-narrow categorizing
       • Skeletonizing-embroidering
       • Belief congruence-contradiction
   • Duality field dependence/independence Ellis (1985) Main characteristics
     • Field dependence
       • Personal Orietation
       • Holistic
       • Dependent
       • Social Sensitive
     • Field Independence
       • Impersonal Orientation
       • Analytic
       • Independent
       • Not so socially aware
   • Skehan (1989:111) Social Characteristics of the field dependent and field independent learner
     • Field dependent
       • Individuals are thought to be person oriented, interested in other people ans sensitive to them
     • Field Indepentent
       • Learners are more impersonal and detached, less sensitive and more aloof; they are cerebral and object oriented
   • Reid´s Perceptual Learning Tendencies
     • Visual Learning
     • Auditory Learning
     • Kinaesthetic Learning

4. LEARNING STRATEGIES

   • Are definied as stepts taken by learner to aid the acquisition, storage and retireval of information. Oxfird and Crookall (1989:404)
   • Ellis (1997:77) Learning strategies are the particular approaches or techniques that learners employ to try to learn a second language.
     • Behavioral
     • Mental
   • Wenden and Rubin (1987) strategies refer to specific actions or techniques which may or may mnot be pbservable. Some can be consciously used and can be modified and learned
     • Language Learner Strategies
       • Contributes to the main goal: Communicaqtive competence
       • Allow learners to become more self-directed and autonomous
       • Expand the role of teachers
       • Are problem-oriented
       • Are specific actions taken by the learner
       • Involve many aspects of the learners
       • Support learning both directly and indirectly
       • Are not always observable
       • Can be taught
         • Strategy Training
       • Are flexible
       • Are influenced by a variety of factors
       • Are present in all students
       • Are often conscious
   • TYPOLOGIES (O´Malley 1985a, Ellis 1985, Wenden and Rubin 1987, Willing 1988, Oxford and Crookall 1989)
     • Cognitive Strategies
     • Memory Strategies
     • Compensation Strategies
     • Metacognitive Strategies
     • Social Strategies
     • Affective Strategies
     • Communication Strategies
   • Ellis (1985) Typology of Communication Strategies
     • Reduction Strategies
     • Achievement Strategies

5. References: IEXPRO (2020) Methodological Approaches Antology. Chapter 1