SLA: Behaviorism

Description

SLA explained through behaviorism.
Gabrielle Valentic
Mind Map by Gabrielle Valentic, updated more than 1 year ago
Gabrielle Valentic
Created by Gabrielle Valentic over 6 years ago
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Resource summary

SLA: Behaviorism
  1. Who? When?
    1. Skinner (1957)
    2. Learner's Knowledge
      1. Where does knowledge come from?
        1. New L2 knowledge equal to new behavior; comes from a model (teacher:expert in the structural knowledge of L1 and L2)
        2. How do learners learn?
          1. Habit-formation resulting in new associations between forms and their meanings through stimulus-response-reinforcement framework; this involves repetition and pattern practice ad nauseam; analogy plays a role as well
          2. What is the nature of their knowledge?
            1. Implicit knowledge (new responses to stimuli) leading to automatization of new habits
          3. Systematicity, Variability, Role of First Language
            1. Is systematicity addressed?
              1. No; however, learners from the same L1 background are expected to commit the same errors
              2. Is variability addressed?
                1. Variability in success can only be attributed to deficient teaching or insufficient practice
                2. How is the role of the first language explained?
                  1. Through the notion of transfer of L1 habits that could be positive or negative depending on the differences and similarities between L1 and L2
                3. Input Exposure and Role of Output
                  1. Role of output
                    1. The more the learner produces (output), the more opportunities to acquire good habits; learners’ active engagement and output are crucial
                    2. Role of input frequency
                      1. The more practice of the new patterns, the easier the formation of new habits
                      2. Role of input
                        1. Input is essential: this is THE source of good stimuli; provided by the teacher
                      3. Role of Instruction and Potential for More Research
                        1. Role of instruction
                          1. Essential: need for models and for immediate and consistent feedback
                          2. Pedagogical implications
                            1. Combining the insights from Structural Linguistics and Behaviorism, gave birth to ALM.
                            2. Potential for more research
                              1. Debunked by Chomsky’s review of Skinner’s Language Behavior; however, some of its principles (associationist learning; frequency of input) will appear in later theories
                            3. Evaluation
                              1. Is the theory testable?
                                1. The theory was not put to test by the Behaviorists themselves; first empirical SLA studies in the 1970s (Error Analyses) did not support the claims made by Behaviorist
                                2. What kind of evidence is used to test the theory?
                                  1. Collecting learners’ samples and examining errors
                                  2. Conclusion of evidence
                                    1. Too simplistic a view: there is much more than repetition and practice involved in SLL; theory interested in testing learners’ output only
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