The linguistic theories of key first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition theorists, researchers, and practitioners such as Chomsky, Krashen, Asher, Cummins, Chamot, and O’Malley will be discussed in this essay for the purpose of providing a base of understanding in which an educator can appropriately and adequately apply these theories and facilitate learning for English Language Learning learners in K-12 classrooms.
Linguistic Theories & Theorists Several L1 and L2 linguistic theorists and theories are discussed in this section including Noam Chomsky, Stephen Krashen, James Asher, Jim Cummins, Anna Uhl Chamot, and J. Michael O’Malley.
Noam Chomsky Noam Chomsky’s theory of L1 acquisition poses that the human brain is born …show more content…
The Monitor hypothesis discusses how information that the acquisition center produces will be monitored, edited, and corrected. Krashen warns that over-monitoring can be detrimental to fluency.
4. The Comprehensible Input hypothesis (i+1) states that when input is easily understood (comprehensible) a student 's learning increases. Input/information (I) that is at a student 's level as well as input that is slightly challenging to the learner (+1) can be acquired; i + 1. Thus input that is too easy or too difficult is not useful.
5. The Affective Filter hypothesis refers to a learner’s mental screen or filter which influences L2 acquisition. When a learner is experiencing anxiety, boredom, or low self-esteem, these and other factors may act as a blockage to the input needed for L2 learning and acquisition.
James Asher
James Asher is known for Total Physical Response (TPR) which is a kinesthetic learning approach which takes the pressure off of students, avoiding brain overload, by allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge of a new language via actions prior to speaking. This tool is especially useful in the beginning levels of L2 while teaching vocabulary and grammar structures. Asher notes that comprehension is developed before speaking, just as with L1 and that uptake by the right brain must occur prior to output by the left brain (Asher,
Linguistic Theories & Theorists Several L1 and L2 linguistic theorists and theories are discussed in this section including Noam Chomsky, Stephen Krashen, James Asher, Jim Cummins, Anna Uhl Chamot, and J. Michael O’Malley.
Noam Chomsky Noam Chomsky’s theory of L1 acquisition poses that the human brain is born …show more content…
The Monitor hypothesis discusses how information that the acquisition center produces will be monitored, edited, and corrected. Krashen warns that over-monitoring can be detrimental to fluency.
4. The Comprehensible Input hypothesis (i+1) states that when input is easily understood (comprehensible) a student 's learning increases. Input/information (I) that is at a student 's level as well as input that is slightly challenging to the learner (+1) can be acquired; i + 1. Thus input that is too easy or too difficult is not useful.
5. The Affective Filter hypothesis refers to a learner’s mental screen or filter which influences L2 acquisition. When a learner is experiencing anxiety, boredom, or low self-esteem, these and other factors may act as a blockage to the input needed for L2 learning and acquisition.
James Asher
James Asher is known for Total Physical Response (TPR) which is a kinesthetic learning approach which takes the pressure off of students, avoiding brain overload, by allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge of a new language via actions prior to speaking. This tool is especially useful in the beginning levels of L2 while teaching vocabulary and grammar structures. Asher notes that comprehension is developed before speaking, just as with L1 and that uptake by the right brain must occur prior to output by the left brain (Asher,