Language is acquired in
one way: when we
understand the message.
And we all acquire language
in the same way.
Classroom Application of the
Innatist theory
Comprehensible Input:
Students have to
understand the content.
Total Physical Response
method is a good way to
ensure this.
Because of the monitor
hyphethsis, teachers
should help students to
internalize rules. This
helps them to self-edit
themselves.
Theory states that ELLs acquire language in a
predictable order. Teachers should avoid strict
grammar activities and instead teach with
linguistically rich activities.
Noam Chomsky
Grammar is universal.
the language may be
different, but all
languages have the
same characteristics,
such as nouns,
verbs, adjectives, etc.
Classroom
Application
Provide meanginful, relatable
material. And don''t be so strict.
And don't focus mainly on
grammar rules or memorization.
Proposed the language
acquisition device, a
hypothetical module that is
supposed to account for
how easy a child learns how
to speak a language.
Innatist Theory:
children do not need
to be taught language.
They hear people
speaking it naturally,
then they piece that
together for
competence. Humans
have an innate ability
to understand and
produce sentences
they have never
heard before.
Classroom Application
Expose your students to
the language. By exposing
them to the language, it will
trigger their inner ability to
speak the language.
Skinner
Behaviorist Theory: children
learn by operant conditioning.
They act out a behavior and
that behavior is then either
punished or rewarded. The
behavior, as a result, is either
continued or discontinued by
the child.
Classroom Application
Audiolingual Method: Oral
pratice. A student
practices speaking
aloud and is either
rewarded for speaking
the language accurately,
or the student is
corrected.
Direct Teaching/
Mastery Learning: a
student is taught the
rules, facts, and
sequences of the
language and
remembers them for
their use language
acquisition
Total Physical Response:Oral
command is then modeled. For
example, the teacher will say
"Stand" and then they will stand.
Jim Cummins
BICS vs. CALP:
Basic
Interpersonal
Communication
Skills vs. Cognitive
Academic
Language
Proficiency
There is a distinction
between conversational,
social use of a language
and academic use of a
language.
Classroom
Application
Just because a student can
speak a language fluently
does not mean they can
write or speak in that same
language academically. We
have to remember that just
because an ELL can have a
conversation with you does
not mean that they do not
need your help and
encouragement in learning
how to write in English
academically.