The theory that had most impact on my understanding of the process of language acquisition, development and learning was the Acquisition/Learning Hypothesis. The Acquisition/Learning hypothesis was developed by Stephen Krashen. According to the textbook, he is a seminal researches in the innastis tradition, who developed five hypotheses about second language acquisition. All these hypotheses are relevant to educating English Language Learners and how they learn. The Acquisition/Learning hypothesis really made most sense to me and I was able to relate to it. It really helped me understand the process of acquiring a language and how different it can be from learning.
1. In the beginning of the semester, I did not really understood the hypothesis of Krashen. Based the article (Gulzar, M. A., Gulnaz, F., & Ijaz, A, 2014) there is two systems, “the acquired system” and “the learned system.” The acquired system works similar to the process of acquisition of the first language. When you learned your first language, you were not aware of how the surroundings were influencing you to talk. The learned system has formal instructions, and it involves a conscious process.
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Language has a big role when it comes to all the cultures, but it can be in different ways as well. It really depends on the background of the student their approach to language. Acquiring/Learning hypothesis really gives you the chance to approach the students in a way that they will feel comfortable. Even though they might not notice, through repetition, visuals and hand gestures, you are helping them acquire the language without disrespecting them culturally. Being relevant and familiar is also a great way to help the students. When doing a lesson, be aware of their background and tie the lesson up with something they are already familiar with. Helping them acquire and learns a language also requires you to challenge them in a way that they feel like they are capable of doing great and being
Being familiar with several different languages is most definitely not one of the easiest things to do. While growing up and experiencing different opportunities to learn different cultures there is no way it should be passed upon. Having the knowledge of different languages will offer one to have a lot more culture within there main culture and the one they are opening there self into. People with culture know their way around the world and the life they’re living. Also, it would permit one to travel to places all over the world and countries. Being knowledgeable about back rounds of several cultures will open a door for one with several opportunities throughout ones life time. Discovering different cultures will bring one around the world giving individuals chances to learn lifestyles in completely different ways. “Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out.” (Anzaldua) I enjoy this statement within writing my essay simply because it represents that she will continue to stay faithful to her language throughout her life.
When a baby is born, he/she comes into this world eager to learn. Always taking in information and absorbing it like a new computer. Every experience he/she encounters could possibly stick in that baby’s mind. However, some of the things that a child hears or perceives can either benefit or corrupt their learning. Teaching a child a second language has the same concept as putting in new software in a computer. Many advantages come with a safe and powerful computer and the same would come with knowing a second language. If a child was not taught a second language in their early years, that child might be at a disadvantage in their future, and as that child grows up not knowing a second language could potentially hold him/her back with grades and obtaining a job. Knowing a second language can benefit from those things and can also help with keeping strong ties with their family, culture, community, and even music.
They do the same when discussing language features according to age and gender. Most of my students are multilingual; they speak at least three languages, Spanish, and two other languages as foreign languages. So, they share examples related to the themes and their experience of speaking a certain language. In addition, my students usually bring examples of the language practices discussed in class. They obtained such examples from the TV programs, books, and magazines they use for entertainment.
Exposing children to different cultures is necessary, and our culture needs to face that soon. It is proven that foreign language study can create more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward different cultures, which shows just how important foreign language really is (Latimer). Additionally, international travel is made a lot simpler (Latimer). Not to mention, speaking a foreign language can help to save money and improve a person's overall experience during their travels. Plus, foreign language can lead to appreciation of cultural diversity, which is much needed in
Language is used to preserve and transfer culture and cultural ties. Diverse ideas branch from differing language use within one’s culture and the whole intertwining of these relationships start at one’s birth. I have to agree with Confucius when he said that we are all born exactly the same; it is only once a child is exposed to their surroundings that they become individuals in and of their cultural group. Every individual’s views are dependent on the culture which has influenced them, as well as the language which has been shaped by that culture. The understanding of a culture and its people can be enhanced by the knowledge of their language. And learning a new language involves the learning of a new culture (Allwright & Bailey
First version of their hypothesis is about human beings remarkable ability in language acquisition in their early life. In this hypothesis they predict that people's ability to acquire languages will be fade or decrease with maturity if they do not practice in early life. Whereas, they will have an active ability to acquire languages if they practice in their early life. The second version of their hypothesis is that human beings will completely or partially lose their available ability to acquire languages as time went by with maturity.
...ces in attempts that they will appreciate and gain knowledge of different cultures. The child’s personal needs or ways of learning will also be taken into consideration when planning activities. Knowing about this theory will give me an idea of what to expect when teaching and how I can facilitate the teaching and learning experience for both myself and the child.
Lightbown, P., & Spada, N. M. (2006). How languages are learned (3rd ed.). Oxford [england: Oxford University Press.
Language plays an important in our lives, for children this is a critical time for them to learn how they can use language to communicate effectively from the when they learn through school and into adulthood. While a child goes through school they are exposed to Standard English, but there are diversities that appear in the classroom for example culture plays a part in language development. Gee and Hayes (2011) stated that there are many things that language can be including; a set of rules, a cognitive experience, a social tool or an object, but overall language is something that changed based on culture and social context. Acknowledging and accepting diversity in the classroom in relation to language and language learning is important
As a teacher language is the most important tool in order to support student learning. The book Elementary Classroom Management by Kerry Williams discusses how language is an important tool to use “language can be a powerful vehicle for activating thought, and as teachers we need to be aware of the role it is playing” (ref pg. 196). The use of words and tone that the teacher uses to the students is significant in the behaviour of students. For example if a student is displaying
The overall essence of education or knowledge acquisition is reflected in an axiom by Confucius which says “Tell me, and I will forget; show me, and I will remember; but involve me, and I will understand. Back then, it was clear that learning was a comprehensive process which involves passionate exchanges between students and their teachers; unfortunately this is not the case in most modern classrooms. Instead of the expected bidirectional communication between learners and teachers, in the modern learning environment there is a unidirectional system which involves the teacher incessantly hurling facts at students who, due to their passive roles as mere receptacles, have fallen asleep or; in the case of “best” students are mindlessly taking notes. This leads to a situation where knowledge has neither been conferred nor acquired.
Homework 1: Individual Assignment 1. What is meant by “knowledge acquisition is not sequential”? Provide a concrete example of knowledge acquisition that illustrates this. Answer: We tend to acquire and re-use knowledge to solve the complex real-life problems.
Another theory is Vygotsky’s (1978) theory. In his theory which is called the sociocultural theory, it is believed that language learning is a social activity and is mediated by language. He believes that learning occurs when an expert of the language assists the learner by using language and
When we know a new language, just we can start to see connections we couldn’t see before because each and every language approaches the world in a slight different way. As a result, we have the opportunity to understand the world from the respective of another culture and gain a greater appreciation of human society in all its diversity. Therefore, the importance of second language learning is gain reinforced. We became not just equipped to communicate across the cultures but empowered and to understand others’ point of view also.
First group is personal benefits. Learning foreign language, people develop their brain`s capabilities, in particular your memory. The researchers from University College London has shown that learning other languages altered grey matter – the area of the brain which processes information – in the same way exercise builds muscles.() Moreover, people who are learning foreign languages develop self-confidence. Multilingual people tend to attract people because of their skills. You can overcome your fears and doubts, become more intelligent, meet new interesting people and travel to places you would have never dared to visit before.