Cognitive-

Code
Learning
Carlos Bello
Laurent Flórez
 What's the difference between
approach and method?
An approach to language teaching
1
describes: The nature of language, How
knowledge of a language is acquired, And
the conditions that promote language
acquisition.

A method is a practical implementation

2 of an approach. A theory is put into
practice at the level of a method.
Cognitive-Code Learning
It was intended as an alternative to the audiolingual method
that emphasizes habit formation as a process of language
learning. The cognitive approach is sometimes considered the
modern version of the grammar-translation method.
The cognitive-code approach to
learning a second language
sees it as a study of language
as a complex system with the
goal of gaining conscious
control of the grammatical,
lexical (vocabulary), and
auditory patterns.
 Teacher's role
• Build on what the students already know
• Help the students relate to new material
themselves, and their previous knowledge
• Avoid rote learning
• Advanced proficiency in the language
taught
• Provide necessary tools for their students
 Student's Role
• Students have a greater responsibility
for their own learning
• Learn from their own errors
• Build new knowledge based on their
previous knowledge
 EXAMPLES OF COGNITIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES
INCLUDE:

1. Asking students to reflect on their experience

2. Helping students find new solutions to problems
3. Encouraging discussions about what is being taught
4. Helping students explore and understand how ideas are connected
5. Asking students to justify and explain their thinking
6. Using visualizations to improve students’ understanding and recall
Strength of the Cognitive-code Learning
Theory
1. It revived the re-emergence of grammar in the classroom.

2. It put more emphasis on the guided discovery of the rules: this

is the rule-governed nature of
language.

3. Learning is not a habit formation but requires cognitive

processing and mental effort
because learners are thinking beings.

4. It liberated the teachers from the straitjackets of the Grammar

Translation Approach, AudioLingualism, and Structural-
situational methods.
Weaknesses of Cognitive-code Learning Theory

1. CCLT is essentially a theoretical proposal because it did not lead to the

development of any teaching method in relation to classroom procedures and
activities.

2. There is little use of examples from authentic material.

3. It never took off in a big way; this theory did not gain support over time.
4. Human thinking is said to be an invisible process, and therefore cognitive
processes are hypothetical constructs.
Learning from home can be
difficult, but it's definitely
achievable.