Second Language Acquisition Theories

Second Language Acquisition Theories

1. Input Hypothesis

   • Stephen Krashen
   • Characteristics
     • -belief that people acquire language in the same way
     • -acquire language when understand message
       • (not how someone says something, but what they say
     • knowledge of world help understand message
   • Application
     • provide pictures, symbols, examples, etc. to help get messages across from speech/ text
     • provide opportunities for children to learn knowledge of outside world to understand message

2. BICS vs. CALP

   • Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills
     • Jim Cummins
     • Charateristics
       • -deals with conversational fluency
       • -children acquire early years of life; are fluent in own language
       • -represents small aspect of any language
       • -looking at discrete language skills
     • Application
       • observe children's everyday language and to see where they stand
       • teach discrete language skills: grammar, spelling, phonics
   • Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
     • Jim Cummins
     • Characteristics
       • interpret and produce complexity of the language
       • found in language of textbooks and written texts
       • language not used in everyday conversation
       • looking at 5 years to catch up to native speakers
     • Application
       • read different types of books with complex language
       • provide examples of written text for students to look at and observe not seen in everyday language

3. Universal Grammar

   • Noam Chomsky
   • Characteristics
     • -all human language rests on building blocks of expression
     • -all languages based on the fundamental interactions between:
       • verbs
       • adjectives
       • nouns
   • Application
     • provide the building blocks and fundamental relationships into lessons
     • teach students about verbs, nouns, adjectives and how to use in sentence structure in different languages when needed

4. Critical Theory Hypothesis

   • Characterisitcs
     • believed second language is best learned between age 2 and puberty
     • ability to learn language is negatively affected by the completion of process of lateralization
       • lateralization= each side of brain develops own specialized functions
       • -young learners use same side of brain for learning both languages
   • Application
     • -teacher can find and use strategies to aid learning
     • give comprehensible input to children in classroom
   • Eric Lenneberg

5. Threshold Hypothesis

   • Application
     • make sure students are strong in their native language before teaching new language
     • bring different cultures into the classroom for all students to experience and learn about
     • create opportunities for parent involvement
   • Jim Cummins
   • Characteristics
     • states there is a threshold level of ability
       • must be reached in one language to be successful in other language
     • states high levels of bilingualism have positive cognitive effects
     • better developed L1= better developed L2

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