Kamis, 28 April 2016

5 Theories of Learning Language


     The starting point of all language teaching should be an understanding of how people learn, but it is too often the case that ‘Learning’ factors are the last to be considered. However, Language learning and teaching lies not in the analysis of the nature of language but understanding the structure and processes of the mind.
1.      Behaviorism is Theory that is emphasizes stimulus, response, and reinforcement as the basic elements of learning. In addition, behaviorism, learning is regarded as a habit formation.
2.      Mentalism (Thinking as rule-governed activity) as human mind was able to cope with an infinite range of possible situation. Such Chomsky (1964) Concluded that Learning consist not of forming habits but of acquiring rules, a process in which individual experiences are used by the mind to formulate the hypothesis.
3.      Cognitive Code (Learners as thinking beings) This Theory view takes learner to be an active processor of information. Here, Learners as thinking beings is they learn by thinking about and trying to make sense of what they see, feel and hear. In this case, The basic teaching technique associated with a cognitive theory of language learning is the problem-solving task such exercises have often been modeled on activities associated with the learner’s subject specialism in ESP.
4.      The Affective Factor (Learners as emotional beings) is such a Theory that although we are learning about machines and system but we still learn as human beings. This could be taken from ‘People think, but they also have feelings’. Learning, is an emotional experience, and the feelings that the learning process evokes will have a crucial bearing on the success or failure of the learning (Stevick, 1976). We can represent the cognitive/ affective interplay in form of a learning cycle.
There are two forms of motivation: Instrumental motivation (reflection of an external need) and Integrative motivation (rather than what learner want). Both forms of motivation are probably present in all learners but each exercises a varying influence, depending on age, experience and changing occupational or social needs.
5.      Learning and Acquisition this theory is reflects our view that for the second language learner both processes are likely to play a useful part and that a good ESP courses will try to exploit both. This theory is not about what the definition of both but rather than focus on the functions the learning and Acquisition. 
6.      A Model for learning this theory force to know that the only acquire meaning and use when we are connected into the network of existing knowledge. In the act of acquiring new knowledge it is the learner’s existing knowledge that makes it possible to learn new items. Furthermore, Items of knowledge are not of equal significance. Some items are harder to acquire, but may open up wide possibilities for further learning.
      
      Here means that the learner will make better progress by developing strategies for solving the learning problems that will arise. Language is a system. If the learner sees it as just a haphazard set of arbitrary and capricious obstacles, learning will be difficult, if not impossible. Last of all, with learning, a need to acquire knowledge is a necessary factor, but of equal, if not greater importance, is the need to actually enjoy the process of acquisition.

      In conclusion that is taking what is useful from each theory and trusting about experience as being teacher. However, theories of learning and language descriptions are not casually linked, however undoubted historical connection between them.


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