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The Nature of Language

Learning

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Agenda

Questions from last week/information aboutAssignment #1

Review Activity

Preview next chapter- Essential Questions

Babies, Children, and Learning

Personal Reflection

Nature versus Nurture in language learning

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Essential Questions

How do we learn a language?

Why do we learn another language?

Are there any differences in the learningprocess between L1 and L2? If so, what are

the differences?

How does our L1 interfere with learningL2?

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Babies, Children, and Language

What do you notice about babies and youngchildren and their language abilities?

What does this suggest about learning L1for children?

How do you think these babies and childrenwere able to communicate? Why did theycommunicate?

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Interesting Facts about Children

and Language AbilitiesBy the age of six months, an infant has

produced all of the vowel sounds and most

of the consonant sounds of any language in

the world.

Before they are three years old, mastered

most of the distinctive sounds of their first

language and have an awareness of basicdiscourse patterns.

By the age of five or six, they can control

most grammar patterns.

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Personal Reflection

Think about a student you have in class thatis having difficulties learning English.

Why do you think the student is havingdifficulties learning English?

What can you attribute the problem to?Students innate abilities? Socialcircumstances?

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Nature versus Nurture

The role of nature (natural ability)

The role of nurture (social experience)

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The Role of Natural Ability

Humans are born with a natural ability orinnate capacity to learn another language.

Genetically given capability. (Since

languages are complex, and children canlearn languages quickly, there is no way they

can learn the language.)

View children as being able to develop moreabilities as they grow up. As children mature,

so do their language abilities.

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The Role of Natural Ability

(continued) Individual variation may occur in learning;

the rate of learning can differ, but there are

stages everyone goes through.

Cut off point- if the process does not

happen at a young age, youll never learn

the language. (Critical Period Hypothesis)

What does this mean for us as teachers?

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The Role of Social Experience

Will never acquire language unless that

language is used with them and around

them, no matter what is their language.

Immigrant childrenno interaction with

their background, they will never learn the

language.

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The Role of Social Experience

(continued)As long as children are experiencing input

and social interaction, the rate and sequence

of development doesnt change.

The only thing that may change is

pronunciation, vocabulary, and social

function.

What does this mean for us as teachers?

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L1 versus L2 Learning

Initial State- knowledge about language

structures and principles

Intermediate State- Basic language

development

Final State- Outcome of learning

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Initial State

L1- Innate capacity

L2- Innate capacity?

L1 knowledge (transfer)

World knowledgeInteraction skills

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Intermediate States- Processes

L1= Maturation (As children mature, so do

their language abilities)

L2= Transfer of prior knowledge from L1 to

L2

Positive transferNegative transfer

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Transfer

Positive transfer- When an L1 structure is

used in an L2 utterance and that use is

appropriate or correct.

-Subject, verb order

-Vocabulary

Negative transfer/Interference- Opposite ofPositive transfer; considered an error.

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Example of Negative Transfer

Can I assist to your class?

I have been always to class on time.

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Intermediate Stages- Necessary

ConditionsL1= Input, interaction with other people

L2= Input (not necessarily interaction); radio,television, internet

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Intermediate State- Facilitating

Conditions L2Rate and ultimate level of development can be

determined by this:

Feedback- Types of correction

Aptitude- Abilities; memory capacity

Motivation- Need and desire to learn

Instruction- Explicit teaching

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Personal Reflection-Part 2

Think how those four facilitating conditions

appear in your teaching. What conditions do

you think are impacting your students

learning? Why or why not?

Feedback

Aptitude

Motivation

Instruction

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Final State

L1= Native competence (fluency like a native

speaker)

L2= Multilingual competence

Never be a native speaker

Level of proficiency is variableStill face interference of L1 (fossilization