Corsame, Jaycille Ann A. BSED-Eng.

II

Schools of Thought in Second Language Acquisition

1. Structural Linguistics and Behavioral Psychology

• Structural Linguistics
It is a method of studying linguistics and a component of structuralism as a whole, and the importance
of viewing language as a static system of related elements is emphasized. Its goal is to classify all of
the utterances in a corpus at each level, including the phonemes, morphemes, lexical categories, noun
phrases, verb phrases, and sentence types. In addition, only observable linguistic activities could be
studied here, and the language will be divided into smaller parts or units, characterized scientifically,
contrasted, and then put back together to form the whole. In regards to that, the task of linguists here
is to define the structural features of human languages and to characterize them. However, the
concepts like meaning or thought were completely disregarded in structural linguistics.

• Behavioral Psychology
It is empirical since it involves conditioning and is based on observation or experience rather than
theory or reasoning. Making the proper connection between stimuli and disorder responses requires
providing language learners with reinforcement, whether it is positive or negative. It focused on
actions that were visible to the general public and on reactions that could be collected, measured,
and recorded objectively.

➢ Making the proper connection between stimuli and the desired reaction requires conditioning
learners with positive and negative reinforcement.
➢ A common teaching strategy in language classes was pounding.

2. Generative Linguistics and Cognitive Psychology

• Generative Linguistics
The idea of generative grammar is used by the school of thought known as generative linguistics,
which is a branch of linguistics. Linguistics goes beyond only describing the surface structure of
language in this aspect.

• Cognitive Psychology
The study of language, the mind, and sociocultural experiences is approached interdisciplinary in
cognitive linguistics. The study of language must take into account both meaning and form, according
to cognitive linguistics, which upholds this idea. Additionally, cognitive linguistics also aims to bridge
the gap between our understanding of language and our biological understanding of certain neural
structures.

➢ Language is unique to each individual.

 ➢ Humans are born with the capacity to learn a language, which makes language an innate
capability.

3. Constructivism: A Multidisciplinary Approach

• Cognitive Constructivism
It emphasizes the importance of the learner's part in creating his or her own conception of reality.
➢ In order to learn, development is necessary.

• Social Constructivism
Emphasizes how social interaction and collaborative learning play a role in creating both cognitive and
emotional perceptions of reality.
➢ Social interaction as a basis for cognitive development.

Source: https://prezi.com/zbmusjrej_lc/schools-of-thought-in-second-language-acquisition/