Popular Ideas about Language Learning

1
Popular Ideas about Language Learning

• Facts Opinions
• LIGHTBOWN SPADA (1999)Class 4 August 29,
  2006

2
Languages are learned mainly through imitation

• Understanding of the language system leads stds
  to building up new/functional language
• Imitation does play an important role in language
  learning
• Selective imitation
• Production of non-heard language
• Imitation is recommended for language practice in
  the case of more proficient students

3
Parents usually correct young children when they
make mistakes

• Focus on meaning, i.e., communication
• Feedback and appropriate guidance is important in
  SLA/L
• Ungrammatical forms can be pointed out in the
  case of SLA/L.

4
People with high IQs are good language learners

• They are more likely to succeed in learning a
  language ...
• The same way as they will probably be successful
  in any other area ...

5
The most important factor in SLA success is
motivation

• Difficulties that students may find in their
  learning can impair motivation to go on and
  succeed in SLA
• Teachers can work on a supportive environment for
  learning and, thus, motivate stds to learn
• Teachers have no influence over learners
  intrinsic motivation.

6
The earlier a SL is introduced in school
programs, the greater the likelihood of success
in learning

• It depends on the learning context
• SLA for children who are bilingual should rely on
  programs that promote the development of the
  first language
• Older children benefit more from FL or SL
  instruction because they already have the
  foundation in their mother tongue
• All school programs should be based on realistic
  estimates of how long it takes to learn a SL.
  (p.164)

7
Most of the mistakes which SL learners make are
due to interference from their first language

• Not necessarily
• The learner can be building the language system
• Overgeneralization overextension of the target
  language
• Interaction with people who make the same
  mistakes.

8
Teachers should present grammatical rules one at
a time, and learners should practise examples of
each before going on to another

• Language learning is not simply linear in its
  development (p. 165)
• Stages of development should be considered when
  learning/assessing is to take place
• Isolated presentation and practice of one
  structure at a time does not provide learners
  with an opportunity to discover how different
  language features compare and contrast in normal
  language use (p. 166)

9
Teachers should teach simple language structures
before complex ones

• There are no thing such as simple language
  structures
• Some of the complex structures can be acquired
  before some of the simple ones
• Teachers should increase the complexity of their
  language as learners proficiency increases.
  (based on p.166)
• Teachers should also expose students to the
  widest possible varieties of linguistic forms and
  structures especially in FL settings. (also
  based on p.166).

10
Learners errors should be corrected as they are
made in order to prevent the formation of bad
habits

• It depends
• Developmental pattern errors should be called to
  the learners attention and explained, if they can
  grasp it
• Children dont usually benefit from metacognitive
  explanations
• Corrective feedback may not be as effective in
  the cases when the student is not yet ready for
  the given structure
• Correction of errors should be done in a punctual
  yet gentle way in order to challenge the learner
  to go on.