Chapter 1

How Languages

are Learned and Acquired

The Interactive Approach: Making Learning Meaningful

Interactive Learning in Content-Based Language ClassesTeachers must create language learning

opportunities that connect to the students’ communities and content areas to build literacy and increase knowledge.

The Interactive Approach: Making Learning Meaningful

Content-Based Language LearningCBI for ESL serves as a bridge to mainstream

classes:• promotes higher level thinking• allows for meaningful discussion of

students’ cultures• reinforces thinking through the 4 skills

Mainstream ClassesELL’s

CBI

The Interactive Approach: Making Learning Meaningful

A Synthesis of Sociocultural and Psycholinguistic Theories and PracticesTeachers can choose methods, strategies and

activities that best enhance second language learning in their classrooms.

The Interactive Approach: Making Learning Meaningful

Influence of Cognitive ResearchersKrashen:

• meaning over form• comprehensible input (i+1)• ample opportunity for meaningful

interactionWong-Fillmore:

• 1st and 2nd language acquisition: Language Acquisition Device (LAD) vs. general cognitive skills

The Interactive Approach: Making Learning Meaningful

McLaughlin: second language learning involves social interaction

• Language is used to communicate meaning

• Need for language-rich environment• Children should experiment with

languageVygotsky: sociocultural perspective:

• self-talk• zone of proximal development

(scaffolding)

The Role of Interaction in Language and Literacy Learning

Communication systems consist of language and nonverbal cuesLanguage

• learned and used through interaction

• used to construct and transmit knowledgeNonverbal cues

• are meaningful• visual, olfactory, gestural, kinesthetic

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Meaningful InteractionLinguistic input becomes comprehensible

through interaction• An active learner who must use language to

communicate a purpose negotiates meaningAn interaction leads to multiple perspectives

• The same interaction may afford learner different outcomes depending on their orientation to, receptivity to and interaction with the context of the interaction.

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Authentic InteractionsInstruction should:

• make tasks that require the natural use of certain essential grammatical features in communication

• provide time for noticing gaps in knowledge of grammar

• provide sufficient and task appropriate feedback which will focuslearner attention on form

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Authentic InteractionsStrategic communication skills can be

developed by:• using background knowledge (schemata)• combining semantic and pragmatic based

strategies• stretching what is

known to compensate

for what is not known

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Authentic InteractionsSociocultural Perspective - learner comes to

understand how language is used to:• present various perspectives on the

world• transform one’s reality• voice ones’ position• act in one’s own interests and the interests of one’s community

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2Relevant Interaction

Psycholinguistic framework• Chamot & O’Malley –

build linguistic and learning skills through content study

Sociocultural framework• Critical literacy and language awareness

empowers students to effect social change and challenge existing hierarchies

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Reflection and ActionReflective skills allow for learner to develop

better self-awareness and control, automaticity and ability to make changes in their linguistic behavior

Reflection plays a major role in organizing and converting past experiences into knowledge and new understanding.

Interaction and Roles of L1 & L2

Feedback:should not be limited to linguistic formsshould encourage learners to express their

thoughts as they learn to manage their language production

FEEDBACK

Second Language Teaching Strategies

Traditional approaches: text-book driven and teacher-controlled with little opportunity for interaction

Second Language Teaching Strategies

Dialectic approaches:• learning practices

facilitated by instruction• include interactive,

discovery, hands-on learning

• use cooperative learning, thematic lessons, process writing , performance/ portfolio assessment, critical thinking, learning strategies