1 BUILDING A THEORY OF SLA. A Theory of second language acquisition must take into account that: • (A theory of SLA includes) an understanding of what language is, what learning is, and for classroom contexts, what teaching is The Monitor hypothesis explains the relationship between acquisition and learning and defines the influence of the latter on the former. Page 1 Page 2 The nature vs. nurture debate extends to the topic of language acquisition. The Input hypothesis is Krashen's attempt to explain how the learner acquires a second language – how second language acquisition takes place. This is a subtle point. Acquiring a language is largely subconscious because it stems from natural and informal conversations. Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target language - natural communication - in which speakers are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the messages they are conveying and understanding. A brief overview of some of the principle theories of second language acquisition and some questions on which to reflect for EFL teachers In other words, when the filter is 'up' it impedes language acquisition. According to Krashen there are two independent systems of foreign language performance: 'the acquired system' and 'the learned system'. Acquiring a language occurs whe… Usually extroverts are under-users, while introverts and perfectionists are over-users. When a child who incessantly babbles happens to utter a meaningful word, such as ‘mama’, he is immediately rewarded with squeals of delight, applause and even a tight hug. All Rights Reserved, The acquired system relates to the unconscious aspect of language acquisition. On the other hand, positive affect is necessary, but not sufficient on its own, for acquisition to take place. The Acquisition-Learning distinction is the most fundamental of the five hypotheses in Krashen's theory and the most widely known among linguists and language teachers. Low motivation, low self-esteem, anxiety, introversion and inhibition can raise the affective filter and form a 'mental block' that prevents comprehensible input from being used for acquisition. Any benefit, however, will greatly depend on the learner being already familiar with the language. Krashen's theory of second language acquisition consists of five main hypotheses: 1. the Acquisition-Learninghypothesis; 2. the Monitorhypothesis; 3. the Inputhypothesis; 4. and the Affective Filterhypothesis; 5. the Natural Orderhypothesis. 1.1.5 linguistic contrast. This action can only occur when speakers have ample time to think about the form and structure of their sentences. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. The Input hypothesis is only concerned with 'acquisition', not 'learning'. According to this theory, the optimal way a language is learned is through natural communication. It does not occur overnight, however. This is turn, will help students to ‘acquire’ the language instead of just ‘learning’ it. Students who are motivated, confident, and relaxed about learning the target language have much more success acquiring a second language than those who are trying to learn with the affective filter in place. The field of second-language acquisition involves various contributions, such as linguistics, sociolinguistics, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and education. Otherwise, Krashen argues that studying grammar equates to language appreciation and does not positively influence language acquisition. The order that the learners follow has four steps: 1. In summary, the most important contributions to second language learning theory include: Noam Chomsky’s Universal Grammar – Language acquisition is innate and follows a … When there are differences between the two languages, errors are likelyto occur e.g. Krashen however points out that the implication of the natural order hypothesis is not that a language program syllabus should be based on the order found in the studies. Second Language Acquisition Theories Language as a System Universal Grammar Communicative Language Ability Input Hypothesis BICS vs CALP Input Processing Lyle Bachman Ferdinand de Saussure "Founding father of modern linguistics" Structuralism, structural linguistics (each language is a system of its own) Ordered, consists of units and their mutual relationship. Stephen Krashencompiled several theories about language. Second language acquisition theory seeks to quantify how and by what processes individuals acquire a second language. Research suggests that this natural order seems to transcend age, the learner's native language, the target language, and the conditions under which the second language is being learned. Language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious grammatical rules, and does not require tedious drill. 4. The only instance in which the teaching of grammar can result in language acquisition (and proficiency) is when the students are interested in the subject and the target language is used as a medium of instruction. Nativist theory explores the linguistic aspects of language acquisition and provides an answer to the question of how people acquire a second language. Stephen Krashen's silent period, in which the student remains silent until they are ready to speak, and his input hypothesis, which focuses on providing material language support at the student's level and slightly above. This theory was based on the work of Jerome Bruner about social learning, and claims that language is acquired as the result of interactions that help the infant develop language. the effect of LI (Arabic) on L2 (English) in syntax andphonology. People learn grammarin a predictable series and order. In fact, he rejects grammatical sequencing when the goal is language acquisition. Each of the components relates to a different aspect of the language learning process. Therefore, if a learner is at step one from the above list, they will only proceed along the natural order when they encounter input that is at the second step. Página inicial                                  Portuguese version. The amount of monitoring occurs on a continuum. As a second language teacher, the ideal is to create a situation wherein language is used in order to fulfill authentic purposes. They begin to identify elements that begin and end sente… These variables include: motivation, self-confidence, anxiety and personality traits. According to this hypothesis, the learner improves and progresses along the 'natural order' when he/she receives second language 'input' that is one step beyond his/her current stage of linguistic competence. Correct utterances are positively reinforced when the child realizes the communicative value of words and phrases. 4. The implication is that knowledge of UG must be available to second language learners as well as to first language learners. Any subject matter that held their interest would do just as well. They string words together based on meaning and not syntax. Also, the filter is low in regard to the language of explanation, as the students' conscious efforts are usually on the subject matter, on what is being talked about, and not the medium. The learned system relates to formal instruction where students engage in formal study to acquire knowledge about the target language. In this system, speakers are less concerned with the structure of their. For example, if a learner has very low motivation, very low self-confidence, and a high level of anxiety, the affective filter comes into place and inhibits the learner from acquiring the new language. Stephen Krashen is an Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Southern California known for his theory of second language acquisition. They string words together based on meaning and not syntax. In its most basic form, the input hypothesis argues that learners progress along the natural order only when they encounter second language input that is one step beyond where they are in the natural order. Lack of self-confidence is frequently related to the over-use of the "monitor". These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are 'ready', recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production. According to Krashen, the role of the monitor is minor, being used only to correct deviations from "normal" speech and to give speech a more 'polished' appearance. They believe that it is the subject matter itself, the study of grammar, that is responsible for the students progress, but in reality their progress is coming from the medium and not the message. Locke’s Tabula Rasa. Stephen Krashen is a Second Language Acquisition researcher and professor at University of Southern California who has been publishing and speaking since the 1980’s. Theories of second language acquisition enable s us to develop a deeper understanding of how children learn a second language. 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