EARLY THEORIES IN SLA

BY: ABAS, NOHA H.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the lesson, the students can:

a. define behaviorism;
b. differentiate classical conditioning and operant
conditioning; and
c. explain acquisition-learning theory and monitor
theory.
 BEHAVIORISM AND STRUCTURAL LINGUISTICS

Behaviorism is a theory of animal and human

behavior. It attempts to explain behavior without
reference to mental events or internal processes.
Rather, all behavior is explained solely with
reference to external factors in the environment.
THE THEORY AND ITS CONSTRUCTS
1. Classical Conditioning
- In a given context, two events are naturally connected (eating and
salivating), and then a third event (the sound) is introduced.
2. Role of Frequency

 Each time a response is made to the stimulus, the association between

them is strengthened.
 If the organism no longer receives the stimulus, the response behavior is
expected to diminish, a process referred to as extinction.
 Repeated exposure, therefore, is an important factor in developing new
behaviors.
3. Operant Conditioning
 Reinforcement and punishment can induce an organism

to engage in new behaviors.

 Reinforcement encourages continuation of the response

behavior whereas punishment discourages continuation

of the response.
 B.F. Skinner is regarded as the father of operant

conditioning.
A. Reinforcement - It refers to the occurrence of an event, like the
reward of food or water following the desired response. In other
words, reinforcement is known as a reward.
 Positive Reinforcement – an event or object or stimulus, that
when presented, increases the probability that the response will
take place again.
 Negative Reinforcement – an event or stimuli that strengthened
a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus.
B. Punishment – It is the opposite of reinforcement. It has an
opposite effect, decreasing the likelihood, or rate of responding to
a target response. It can be positive or negative.
 Positive Punishment – simply means something is presented,
such as spanking, scolding, and aversive event following
behaviour reduces the likelihood of recurring.
 Negative Punishment – involves losing or not obtaining a
reinforce as a consequence of behaviour.
*FIVE INTERRELATED HYPOTHESES OF MONITOR THEORY*

1. Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
 Acquisition - takes place naturally and outside of awareness.
 Learning - involves gaining explicit knowledge about
language such as its rules and patterns.
2. Monitor Hypothesis
 Its primary function is editing acquired knowledge during

language production.
 Monitoring function is the practical result of the learned grammar.