Language Acquisition

Universal Grammer
1. Noam Chomske
  1. All human language rests on building blocks. Nouns, adjectives, and Verbs
    1. Utilize the learners ability to recognize the major building blocks to develop more enhanced language
BICS vs CALP
1. Jim Cummins
  1. SLL can speak English relatively fluently after a few years, but there can still be big gaps between that and their academic progress
    1. Teachers should strive to have students reach CALP, where they are academically proficient in english. This could take 5-7 years to reach grade level.
Input Hypothesis
1. Stephen Krashen
  1. We acquire language in one way, when we understand messages (comprehensible input). When we understand what is said to us or what we read.
    1. Use Pictures, hand motions and annotations to assist learners.
Underlying Proficiency Theory
1. Jim Cummins
  1. A skill or concept learned in one language transfers to the other language when the requisite vocabulary is learned
    1. Teach features that are different in the other language
Threshold Hypothesis
1. Jim Cummins
  1. There is a threshold level of ability that needs to be reached in one language in order for a learner to be successful in another language.
    1. If students are above threshold they can have a positive/additive effect. The more developed the L1 the better able to develop the L2. Understand the learning patterns, and how well developed the L1 is.
    2. High levels of bilingualism have positive cognitive effects

Resource summary

	Created by reinelt.ashton about 9 years ago