07 Cognitivist Theories

8/10/2019 07 Cognitivist Theories

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Second Language LearningCognitivist Theories



Cognitivist Theories

Disagreement over the importance ofLAD

– Is used in L2 (White 2003)

– Is not used in L2 (Schachter 1990 and Bley-Vroman 1983)

– For some theories it doesn ’ t really matter aboutLAD

Different approaches to what theprocess of learning/acquisirion is– Processing– Constructionist



Cognitive anti-method

L2 learning is controlled by the learnerrather than the teacherHumans possess an innate capacity to

learn languageNo need to attend to linguistic form inorder to learn a languageClassroom language learning is not an

additive processErrors are part of the learning processL1 interference due to ignorance



Cognitive Code Method

A clear awareness and analysis ofthe L2 would help learning itLearners need opportunities to usethe language innovatively andcreativelyThe similarities between learning L1and learning L2 can be used inlearning

‘jazzed up’ grammar – translation?



Questions for considerationWhat does it mean to analyse orexperiment with a new language?Is there a really difference between

‘learning’ a language and ‘acquiring’ alanguage?Can the classroom ever repeat theconditions that surrounded the learning ofthe mother tongue? If not, do we have to

change our techniques in order to helplearners?



Further developments

Children learn ‘simple’ structures then revisethem to accept complex structuresChange as restructuring rather than build up

of knowledgeL2 as skill learning:– ‘declarative knowledge’ then ‘procedural

knowledge’ Anderson and DeKeyser

Transfer appropriate learning– Language more easily remembered in situations

similar to where it was learned



Processing approaches

Focus on how the learner processeslanguage and how this developesover timeExamples

McLaughlinAnderson



Examples of Processingapproaches

McLaughlinControlled processing in short-term memoryAutomatic in long-term memory

AndersonCognitive – declarative knowledgeAssociative - procedural

Autonomous - procedural



Processing approaches

Initial stage(s)– More conscious learning– Carefully constructed pattern– Learned chunk– Acquired awareness

Later stage(s)– Automatic, subconscious



Constructivist Approaches

E.g ConnectionistSee the mind as neural networks

– The mind forms networks for the sets oflanguage that it comes across– These are reworked as alternative

patterns of networks are developed

– Language learning as associatativeprocess

– (Difficult to research)



Reading

Ellis, R (1997) Second Language Acquisition , OUP:OxfordMitchell R and Myles F (2004) Second

Language Learning Theories , 2Ed,Hodder:LondonLightbown, P.M. and Spada, N. (2006)How Languages are Learned . 3 rd ed.OUP:Oxford



Reading

White L (2003) Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar ,Cambridge: CUP

Crain, S & Lillo-Martin, D (1999) AnIntroduction to Linguistic Theory andLanguage Acquisition , Blackwell: Oxford

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07 Cognitivist Theories