THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

1. There are several theories about second language acquisition that have similarities to each other.

   • For example:
     • Behaviorism.
       • Behaviorism proposes that L2 learners acquire the language by a process of imitation and repetition of a task until it becomes a habit.
         • According to this definition, Behaviorism is related to some Van Patten's theories:
           • Declarative/Procedural Model:
             • Declarative/Procedural Model says that learning and the use of the language depends of the memory.
               • So,
                 • both theories have memory as an important part of second language acquisition.
                   • Behaviorism use repetition as the main practice to acquire the language and, thanks to repetition a student can memorize the different tasks and skill of the target language.
           • Concept Oriented Approach:
             • Concept Oriented Approach is interested in the way in which meaning or semantic concepts are expressed,
               • but is not focused in reporting the findings in terms of whether the learners are correct or incorrect.
                 • So,
                   • This theory is related with the behaviorism because it is condition by imitation, reinforcement and habits and errors are forbidden
     • Innatism.
       • Innatism Is based on the idea that all languages contain a similar structures, and these structures are innate in each human being and they develop it while they are acquiring a language.
         • According to this definition, Innatism is related to some Van Patten's theories:
           • Universal Grammar:
             • This theory proposes that every human is born with universal grammar, and it is not neccessary that they learn it.
               • So,
                 • Universal grammar is related to innatism theory since it has innate structures that all humans possess, which allows them to understand the structures of a language, set of rules, known as mental grammar, based on the use of learning strategies that allow the information to be processed in the mind of each person.
                   • Also,
                     • this natural adaptation enables children to learn a second language faster and easier, if this occurs from the first years of life.
           • Input Proccessing Theory:
             • The Input Proccessing Theory exposes the process of mechanisms that learners use to link linguistic form with its meaning or function.
               • That is thy,
                 • The input proccessing is related to Innatism Theory, because both focus on how learners use these internal and external data for their language learning process.
                   • Also,
                     • they take the principles and parameters of the human being and transform it in mechanisms and strategies for the adqusition process.
     • Interactionism
       • Interactionism proposes that a person learn based on the background that is surrounded him, which means he learns the culture and ways of communication.
         • According to this definition, Interactionism is related to some Van Patten's theories:
           • Linguistic Theory:
             • Linguistic theory focuses on activating the human being's language structure and constantly reinforces it.
               • So,
                 • both theories focus on the development of a series of habits that influence in language learning mainly from self-esteem and self- confidence that people develop with the help of clues or people within their environment during the acquisition process.
           • The Sociocultural Theory:
             • The Sociocultural Theory exposes that learners improve their communicative skills through interaction, because they learned the ways in that people uses the target language.
               • So,
                 • these theories propose that learning is permeate by the context, that the interplay between individuals aids to their cognitive development, and in second language acquisition the learner work out his communicative skills.
           • The Complexity Theory:
             • In the Complexity Theory, the environment permeate the learning, which means that learners adapt their knowledge of the language according to the context where they are.
               • That is why,
                 • the Complexity Theory is related with Interactionism because they expose that learning is given in a social context,
                   • and that environment determinates what individuals learn and how they learn it.
           • Interaction Framework.
             • Interaction Framework says the acquisition of a second language is facilitate through the use of that target language in interaction.
               • That is why,
                 • these theories are related because they propose that through interaction people can learn the ways of using the target language to achieve an appropiate communication.
     • Cognitivism
       • Cognitivism is focuses on the processes involved in learning and in the internal processes and connections that take place.
         • According to this definition, Cognitivsm is related to some Van Patten's theories:
           • Skill Acquisition:
             • Skill Acquisition says that if a second language learner repeats enough times a specific task, it will be automatic.
               • that is why,
                 • Skill Acquisition is related with cognitivism because adults start to learn something through mainly explicit processes and later when they have practice and have been exposed to the target language, they proceed to implicit processes.
           • Proccessibility Theory:
             • The Processability Theory is based that learners are obligated to follow the hierarchy order of processability when they are going to acquire a target language.
               • That is why,
                 • Processability Theoyrt is related with cognitivism is focuses on the processes involved in learning and in the internal processes and connections that take place.

2. By: Aura Vides, Sara Rivera, María Alejandra Rojas & Manuela Otalvaro.