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Questions and Answers

Humans are genetically programmed to use language through an innate device called the ______

Language Acquisition Device

The theory that humans are born with an innate capacity for language acquisition is known as ______

nature

The fundamental set of principles that structures language in general is known as ______

Universal Grammar

According to the critical period hypothesis, the innate capacity for language acquisition needs to be activated until ______ in order to master the L1 well

puberty Signup and view all the answers

Younger learners may have an advantage in learning new sounds and achieving better pronunciation due to their still-developing ______

motor organs Signup and view all the answers

A weakness of the Language Acquisition Device theory is that it does not fully account for the influence of ______ factors on language acquisition

environmental Signup and view all the answers

Older learners may advance faster in areas such as ______ because of their greater competences in abstract thinking and metalinguistic awareness

grammar Signup and view all the answers

According to constructivism, humans perceive and interpret the world in very ______ ways

different Signup and view all the answers

Humans construct their own ______

realities Signup and view all the answers

Learning means adapting actions, concepts, and language in order to make them ______

viable Signup and view all the answers

Teachers cannot teach anybody anything in the sense of handing down ______ but can rather offer

knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Too much complexity and uncertainty may cause ______ rather than personal interest and effort

resistance Signup and view all the answers

The teacher provides a rich ______ environment, arrangement and authentic material

learning Signup and view all the answers

The role of the L1 is ______ but only if it has the potential to elicit meaningful interaction

major Signup and view all the answers

The learner is understood as a ______, autonomous system

self-referential Signup and view all the answers

The weakness of this approach is the ______ of structure

lack Signup and view all the answers

According to the Input Hypothesis, the only thing that matters for successful learning is ______ input.

comprehensible Signup and view all the answers

The ideal input for language learning is i+1, which means input that is slightly beyond students' current level of ______.

proficiency Signup and view all the answers

The affective filter refers to the emotional ______ that can affect language acquisition.

factors Signup and view all the answers

If learners are anxious, stressed, or unmotivated, their affective filter may be ______.

high Signup and view all the answers

According to the Output Hypothesis, ______ is needed for hypothesis testing.

output Signup and view all the answers

Corrective ______ is important for language improvement according to the Output Hypothesis.

feedback Signup and view all the answers

According to the Interaction Hypothesis, children are born with a ______ for language, but this capacity must be activated and developed through social interaction.

capacity Signup and view all the answers

Joint attention, turn-taking and ______ are important for language learning according to the Interaction Hypothesis.

feedback Signup and view all the answers

The Interaction Hypothesis states that opportunities for ______ via face-to-face interaction are important for language learning.

experimentation Signup and view all the answers

A weakness of the Interaction Hypothesis is that it does not fully account for the role of ______ differences in language acquisition.

individual Signup and view all the answers

Overgeneralisation refers to the phenomenon that language learners who have applied a certain grammar rule 'overuse' it by applying it to all contexts even when there are ______ from that rule.

exceptions Signup and view all the answers

Overgeneralisation is a phenomenon where language learners apply a certain grammar rule to all contexts, including those with ______ from that rule.

exceptions Signup and view all the answers

Assumptions of Foreign Language Learning include that learners have to be ______ ready to notice and process new linguistic structures of the foreign language

developmentally Signup and view all the answers

The learner moves along a continuum in a continual process of hypothesis formation and hypothesis testing while acquiring new elements of the target language and integrating them into the developing ______

interlanguage Signup and view all the answers

The development of a learner’s ______ has been seen to follow a predictable path, whose stages cannot be skipped

interlanguage Signup and view all the answers

Teachers should make adequate choices of methods based on the ______ in your class

individuals Signup and view all the answers

Teachers should adapt syllabi in a way that is ______ to language learning

conductive Signup and view all the answers

Teachers should understand the role of ______ (what should the consequences be?)

errors Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language Acquisition Theories

Innatism: Language acquisition is innate and triggered by environmental stimuli.
- Humans are born with an innate device for language learning (Language Acquisition Device, LAD).
- Universal Grammar (UG): a fundamental set of principles that structures language in general.

Application to L1 vs L2 Scenarios

Critical Period Hypothesis: Innate capacity needs to be activated in a critical period until puberty to master L1 well.
L1 vs L2: Older learners may advance faster in grammar due to greater competences in abstract thinking and metalinguistic awareness, while younger learners have better pronunciation and are less inhibited.

Weaknesses of Innatism

Does not account for influence of environmental factors on language acquisition.
Does not account for individual differences in language acquisition.
Does not explain how adult second language learners acquire language.

Constructivism

Ideas: Humans perceive and interpret the world differently, learning is construction of knowledge, and knowledge structures differ between individuals.
Method: Teacher provides rich learning environment, authentic material, and guidance, while learners construct knowledge through interaction, cooperation, and collaboration.

Weaknesses of Constructivism

Lack of structure.
Limited attention to form.
Lack of accountability, focusing on process rather than final product.

Input Hypothesis (Krashen)

Ideas: Comprehensible input is necessary for successful learning, and affective filter (emotional factors) can affect language acquisition.
i+1: Input slightly beyond students' current level of proficiency.
Example: Listening to a podcast slightly above one's level of comprehension, leading to gradual improvement over time.

Output Hypothesis (Canal and Swain)

Ideas: Output is necessary for hypothesis testing, and corrective feedback is important.
Example: Practicing with a language partner to identify knowledge gaps and improve through feedback and further practice.

Interaction Hypothesis (Long)

Ideas: Language acquisition through a combination of innate abilities and environmental influences, with social interaction and feedback being essential.
Importance: Joint attention, turn-taking, and opportunities for experimentation in language learning.

Weaknesses of Interaction Hypothesis

Does not fully account for individual differences in language acquisition.
Difficult to apply in classroom settings with large groups of learners.
May not be effective for learners who are not comfortable with social interaction.

Errors and Rules in the Learner's Developing Interlanguage

Overgeneralisation: Applying a grammar rule too widely, even when there are exceptions.
Interlanguage Development: Learners move along a continuum, forming and testing hypotheses, and acquiring new linguistic structures, with non-target-like elements being corrected and improved when developmentally ready.

Importance for Teachers

Make choices: Adapt methods and syllabi based on individual learners in the class.
Understand errors: Recognize the role of errors in language learning and development.

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Description

This quiz explores the concept of language acquisition in children, focusing on the idea that an innate device for language learning is necessary for understanding how language works. It discusses the limitations of observable phenomena and the importance of innate abilities.