SLA Theorists

Directions
Locate your theorist on the slides
● Group 1 Cummins
● Group 2 Krashen
● Group 3 Chomsky
Place all group members name on the slide
Using the internet and/or the theory materials from Blackboard Seminar 2 folder,
highlight the main points of your theorist. Add your groups information on the following
slide

Designate someone to share out your groups findings

TOPIC:

Jim Cummins

GROUP MEMBERS:

Amaia, Kameron, Paige, Gysell, Zaira,

Talia
Jim Cummins
● BICS and CALP
● Conversational fluency takes 2-5 years and academic language takes 4-7
years.
● Expanded the concept of conversational and academic language to include
two types of communication
● Cognitively demanding vs. cognitively undemanding
TOPIC:

Stephen Krashen

We acu

GROUP MEMBERS:

Natalia Howard, Karenna Bray, Gabriela

Wiborn, Rae’Lu McBride, Esmeralda
Roman
Krashen Theories

We acquire language when we understand messages, when we understand what we read, and when we
understand what people tell us - (Comprehension Hypothesis)

Language is acquired and occurs subconsciously.

The natural order hypothesis we acquire language in order of grammatical items first then more progressive.

We consciously learn language when we are a monitor or editor- we go over what we are going to say in our
minds to correct any errors (The Monitor Hypothesis)

Beginning level: There are many methods that work at this level. The goal is to have the classroom filled with
aural comprehensible input.

Affective filter Hypothesis: Variables can affect language acquisition from developing.

EX. anxiety, low self esteem, not a member of the community

TOPIC:

Noam
Chomsky
GROUP MEMBERS:

Hannah Schumsky, Mo Gehrke,Mikaela

Powers,Nancy Perez
Noam Chomsky
● Chomsky based his theory on the idea that all languages contain similar structures and rules (a universal
grammar), and the fact that children everywhere acquire language the same way, and without much effort,
seems to indicate that we're born wired with the basics already present in our brains.
● The term “generative grammar” refers to the set of rules that enables us to understand sentences but of
which we are usually totally unaware.
● He believes that children instinctively learn language without any formal instruction.
● Known as “Father of modern linguistics”
● “Education is a system of imposed ignorance.”
● “If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”
● Known to be a behaviorist theorist
● Children learned their mother tongue by simple imitation, listening to and repeating what adults said.