Human Learning

Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson

Students: Maureen Fallas Marcela Mora

CHAPTER 4

Introduction

Focus on cognitive processes Learning theories: Behaviorism Subsumption Theory, Humanistic Psychology Universal learning principles Aptitude and intelligence Community Language Learning Method

Learning and Training

Four steps of conducting a training program: Specifying entry behavior Explicitly formulating the goals of the task Devising some training methods Determining short-term and long-term evaluation measures

Learning Theory
Various definitions of learning Four psychologists: Pavlov (Classical Conditioning)

Skinner (Operant Conditioning)

Ausubel (Cognitive Teaching Theory ) Rogers (Humanistic Psychology)

Pavlovs Classical Conditioning

Learning process: association between stimuli and reflex Experiments: A dog salivate to the sound of a bell reflex- unconditioned response conditioned response

Behaviorism (Watson, 1913)

Skinners Operant Conditioning

Respondent conditioning vs. operant conditioning Law of Effect (Thorndike) Reinforcer vs. punishment Programmed instruction Audiolingual Method

Ausubels Subsumption Theory

Rote learning vs. meaningful learning Subsumption Short-term memory vs. long-term memory

Systematic forgetting

Proactive and retroactive inhibition Cognitive pruning procedures Example: Childrens concept of hotness Language attrition Subtractive bilingualism Subsumption theory :the rejection of conditioning models Systematic forgetting: important implications for language learning and teaching

Rogerss Humanistic Psychology

Constructivist Putting more focus on affection than on cognition 19 formal principles of human behavior from a phenomenological perspectives Internal forces: individuals self-concept; personal sense of reliability Nonthreatening environment Fully functioning persons

Rogerss Humanistic Psychology

1.
2. 3.

Focus on learning rather than teaching Fully functioning person Teachers: facilitators of learning Flows of humanistic Psychology Nondirective approach Nonthreatening environment The positive effects of competitiveness Empowerment of students in classrooms (Freire, 1970)

Types of Learning
Eight types of learning (Gagn, 1965): 1.Signal learning: standard conditioning 2.Stimulus-response learning 3.Chaining 4.Verbal association 5.Multiple discrimination 6.Concept learning 7.Principle learning 8.Problem solving

Types of Learning

Question: Which types of learning do you think is the most important ability that one should be well-developed? Why?

Transfer, Interference, and Overgeneralization

Several manifestations of one principle of learning The interaction of preciously learned materials with a present learning event

Transfer and Interference

Positive transfer Negative transfer: interference Native language interference on the target language The facilitating effects of native language

Interference and Overgeneralization

1. 2. 3. 4.

Generalization Overgeneralization Flied goed John doesnt cant fly. He told me when should I get off the train. special constraints of rules

Transfer, overgeneralization, and interference

Transfer

positive(+)

negative (-)

Overgeneralization Interference

(L1 L1) (L2 L2)

(L1 L2) (L2 L1)

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning Grammar Translation methods The superiority of an inductive approach inductive and deductive dichotomy (Peter, 1981) Gestalt learning: the whole before the parts

Aptitude and Intelligence

Question : Is there any ability or talent that we can call for foreign language aptitude?

Aptitude
The Modern Language Acquisition Test (MLAT: Carroll and Sapon, 1958) Pimsleur Language Aptitude Battery (PLAB: Pimsleur, 1966) Critiques about aptitude test Suggestions for using aptitude test

Intelligence
Traditional measurement of linguistic and logicalmathematical abilities Multiple intelligence (Gardner, 1983) 1. linguistic 2. logical-mathematical 3. musical 4. Spatial 5. Bodily-kinesthetic 6. Naturalist 7. Interpersonal 8. Intrapersonal intelligence

Intelligence
Three types of smartness (Sternberg, 1988) 1. componential ability for analytical thinking 2. Experiential ability 3. Contextual ability Emotional intelligence (Goleman, 1995) 1.The emotional mind is far quicker than the rational mind 2.equals to interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence

Relationship between Intelligence and Second Language Learning

Musical intelligence: intonation and pronunciation Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: phonology Interpersonal intelligence: communication Experimental and contextual abilities (Sternberg) Emotional intelligence (Goleman)

Pedagogical Implications of Intelligence

Applying multiple intelligence to teaching English Language : the foundation of intelligence itself Multiple intelligence and meaningful learning experiences

Community Language Learning

Based on Carl Rogers Learning Theory the teachers role: the counselor advantages of CLL 1. Overcoming the threatening of affective factors 2. offering insights to teachers Disadvantages of CLL: 1. the need of directed and deductive learning 2. rely on the translation success of the counselor

Conclusion

Each aspect is important, while no consistent amalgamation of theory works for every context of second language learning

Thank you for your listening.