Processability Theory in second Language Acquisition with simple explanations for language teachers, educators and second language researchers. Processability Theory During the 1980s, an attempt was made to create a broader-based sequence of development, first called the ‘multidimensional model’, later the ‘processability model’, which believed that the explanation for sequences must lie in the expanding capacity…
Systematicity in language learning A substantial part of the SLA research community has concentrated on documenting and trying to understand the discovery that language learning is highly systematic. A defining moment for the field was in the late 70s / early 80s when it became evident that L2 learners follow a fairly rigid developmental route, in the same way…
Polyglot GRE Vocabulary Flashcard /ˈpɒl.ɪ.glɒt/ (adj & noun) Definition a multilingual person speaking several languages, bilingual, trilingual, multilingual Example Polyglot doesn’t have a formal definition with a set criteria for how many languages you need to know to qualify as one. However, general agreement on how to become a polyglot among linguists and language learners…
Improve your reading and listening comprehension with selected text and a video podcast together with illustrated flashcards on how to keep your brain sharp Research has shown that there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are. Doing certain brain exercises to…
Input Hypothesis Input Hypothesis Krashen’s Input Hypothesis explicitly rejects a role for consciousness, claiming that “acquisition” is a subconscious process. Krashen assumed a ‘language acquisition device’, that is, an innate mental structure capable of handling both first and second language acquisition. The input activates this innate structure. But only input of a very specific kind…
Chaos Theory Chaos theory was developed from the 1960s work of the meteorologist, Edward Lorenz. Lorenz discovered that a very small difference (less than one part in one thousand) in the initial conditions led to large changes in the weather predicted by his model over time. A chaos is included in a larger phenomenon, that…
Construct Validity Construct Validity In this type of validity, it is attempted to test psychologically real constructs that have an independent existence in the test taker, and that the test scores represent the degree of presence or absence of this very real property. In this response, Cronbach and Meehl (1955) state: This type of validity…
Sensitive Period Hypothesis Sensitive Period Hypothesis in comparison to Critical Period Hypothesis The review showed variation in studies and findings with regard to the age groups considered, nature of the pronunciation tests, and length and type of exposure to the second language. One conclusion drawn is that cerebral lateralization is likely to be irrelevant to…
Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Second Language Acquisition (SLA) An abbreviation for Second Language Acquisition. Second Language Acquisition is the common term used for the name of the discipline. In general, SLA refers to the process of learning another language after the native language has been learnt (Gass & Selinker, 2008). Sometimes the term refers to…
Child Language Acquisition Child Language Acquisition Cromer concludes that experience stimulates language organisational processes and that these affect other linguistic structures that are internally related. The children appeared to be building their own grammars in their own way, without direct positive or negative evidence as to what was right or wrong. Children are creative, selective…