Second/Foreign Language Acquisition Theories

Second/Foreign Language Acquisition Theories

1. Behaviourist Theory

   • Purpose
     • This theory hypothesizes that children learn their second language through the use of stimulus, response, and reinforcement.
   • Author
     • Frederic Skinner
   • Characteristics
     • Language as a Cognitive Behaviour
       • Operational Condition
         • Imitation-Reinforcement

2. Innatist Theory

   • Purpose
     • This theory states that human beings are born with a predisposition to learn and use the language. People are innately endowed with the power of language learning.
   • Author
     • Noam Chomsky
   • Characteristics
     • Language Aquisition Device
       • Language is an innate faculty
         • Universal Grammar

3. Interactionist Theory

   • Purpose
     • This theory believes caregivers play a critiacl role in adjusting language to facilitate the use of innate capacities for language acquisition.
   • Author
     • Lev Vygotsky
   • Characteristics
     • Influence by environment
       • Zone of Proximal Development
         • Scaffolding

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