What two activities do cognitive process show promote SL learners to construct and internalize language-using rules and what shift has this caused in contemporary thinking about SLA?
- Problem solving
- Authentic communication
- Contemporary thinking about SLA has shifted from “what the teacher does” to “what the learners do”.
Outside of the words, language that engages people includes these 8 things
1) Facial expressions
2) Physical gestures
3) Pauses
4) Hesitations
5) Intonation
6) Cadence
7) Inflection
8) High and Low Tonal Sounds
What language grammar has been analyzed for 2300 years
Greek and Latin grammar
What is true about copying Greek and Latin grammar for vernacular languages?
It isn’t always appropriate
What is the main goal of the historic and still used, Grammar-Transition Methodology?
Reading and grammar knowledge
- Memorize words
- Correct translations
What are the strengths and weakness of Grammar-Transition Methodology
- Strengths
- Desired results clearly defined
- Curriculum can be carefully structured and controlled
- Weaknesses
- Few student choices
- Little contact with actual language speakers
- Little social context, curiosity, exploration
What was the basis of Structural Linguistics? What two languages would this approach be difficult?
The comparison of languages for the purposes of teaching (contrast analysis)
- English and Chinese
What is core of behaviorism?
The mind is a blank slate that must be filled
What are 4 teaching methods that have their source in behaviorism?
- Audiolingualism: Oral practice
- ** Direct Teaching
- Explicit objectives
- Sequenced steps / rules
- Carefully scripted, efficient
- Regular testing / remediation
- ** Master Learning
- Self-paced / monitored DT
- Total Physical Response TPR
What are the advantages and disadvantages of behavioral method of teaching.
** Audioligualism
- Strength:
- Focus on correct pronunciation
- Weaknesses
- Limits exposure to target culture
- Fails to emphasize self-motivated SLA
- Puts pressure on classroom and doesn’t enable spontaneous communication
What are the advantages and disadvantages of behavioral method of teaching.
** Direct Teaching / Mastery
- Strength
- Focus on a subset of skills with immediate remediation
- Weaknesses
- Students seldom set own goals or pursue interests
- Little time to explore language creativity
What are the general weaknesses of Behavioral Teaching?
- May work in the short term but reaches a point of diminishing returns
- Students may not reach “critical literacy” necessary for higher level success in the culture
What is sometimes true about how a student sounds when using Audiolingual Instruction?
They sound like they know more than they do
What was the goal of Transformational Grammar (never became popular)
Understand and describe the internalized rules around Chomsky’s LAD (Language Acquisition Device)
What two useful ideas of communicative competence did Hymes present?
1) The use of language in the social setting is more important than language performance
2) Social structure is an essential element in linguistic interaction
What is currently language teaching being shaped by, taking precedence over teaching?
The Cognitive Paradigm
What has emerged as the dominant approach to learning including SLA?
Cognitive psychology
According to the cognitive model of SLA put forward by Krashesn’s Monitor Model, SLA structures are acquired in a predictable order if (2 things)
1) Student obtains comprehensible input
2) Anxiety is low enough to allow input into their minds
Krashesn’s comprehensible input involves (5 things)
1) Predictable elements
2) Shorter sentences
3) More intelligible, well-formed utterances
4) Less subordination
5) More restricted vocabulary/topics with focus on communication
In terms of SLA, how to CUP and SUP differ?
CUP (Common Underlying Proficiency) states that a primary language serves as a basis for SLA, while SUP (Separate Underlying Proficiency) state that proficiencies need to be relearned for SLA.
How do BICS and CALP compare in terms of context and how does this affect the time taken for mastery?
BICS is “context embedded” while CALP is “context reduced” and may take considerably longer: 5 vs 2 yrs
What is true of many of the skills in CALP
They are a refinement of BICS skills
What can be used to introduce more extensive vocabulary and poetry?
Place the rhyming patterns of playground chants on wall charts
What may be true about direct learning strategies over time.
They may become automated
