COGNITIVE INFLUENCES ON LANGUAGE LEARNING

COGNITIVE INFLUENCES ON LANGUAGE LEARNING

1. Intelligence or the "G" factor

   • Gardner´s Intelligences: *Logico -mathematic *Linguistic *Spatial *Musical *Bodily kinesthetic *Interpersonal *Intraoersonal
   • Intelligence seems to be a strong factor when it comes to learning L2 in the classroom, if the instruction is formal. When less formal, may play a less important role. (Lightbown and Spada 1993)

2. LANGUAGE APTITUDE The natural ability which we have to learn languages

   • Carol and Sapon´s main components in language aptitude: *Phonemic or phonetic coding ability *Gramatical sensitivity *Inductive language learning ability *Rote learning ability
   • The aptitude factor is related only to acquisition and not connected with formal instruction (Krashen 1981). Aptitude is relevant to both naturalistic learning and to formal teaching situations (Skehan 1989).

3. COGNITIVE STYLE The manner in which the learner perceives, monitors, conceptualizes, and recalls linguistic information

   • Brown's variables 1973: *reflective-impulsive thinking *broad-narrow categorizing *skelotonizing-embroidering *belief conguence-contradiction
   • Ellis's main characteristics:
     • Field dependance: 1.Personal orientation 2.Holistic 3.Dependant 4.Socially sensitive
     • Field Independence: 1.Impersonal orientation 2.Analytic 3.Independent 4.Not so socialy aware

4. LEARNING STRATEGIES

   • Classification of Language Learning Strategies (O'Malley 1985 and others) -Cognitive strategies -Memory strategies -Compensatin strategies -Metacognitive strategies -Social strategies -Affective strategies -Communication strategies
   • Steps taken by the learner to aid the acquisition, storage and retrieval of information (Oxford and Crookall1989)
   • Particular approaches or techniques that learners employ to try to learn a second language (Ellis 1997).

5. STRATEGY TRAINING

   • AIMS IN STUDENTS -foster learner's autonomy -learn without the teacher -learn more happIly and effectively -awareness in things that will help them learn -understand how the learning process works -out of class learning strategies
   • Learning strategies are not fixed, immutable characteristics, but something we, as teachers, can help our students become more efficient learners in an L2.