Biological factors in second language development
What does Chomsky claim in his theory?
We are born with certain language ability built in our mind. External factors influence language acquisition. Chomsky suggests that humans may have an innate knowledge of the properties of language.
What do the behaviorists claim?
Language acquisition is a building process that results from our experience. The behaviouristic position is that children come to the world with a tabula rasa a clean slate bearing no preconceived notions about the world or about language and these children are then shaped by the environment, slowly conditioned through various schedules of reinforcement.
How do you understand critical period?
It is age of a child before which he/ she acquires knowledge most easily and fast.
What is lateralization? When it takes place?
It is the control of some physical or mental function by one side of the body or either hemisphere of the brain. It takes place from child's birth till age of 6.
Enumerate 3 functions of left and right hemisphere.
Left hemisphere: It contains nerves centres responsible for language, verbal communication, linear learning, analytical and abstract thinking.
Right hemisphere: It contains nerves centres responsible for non-verbal communication(understanding gestures, mimics), emotional communication, intuition, imagination, understanding situations,interpersonal relations, sensorial sensation.
What is encoding?
It is first stage in memorizing. Some students learn unintentionally so they remember many things easily but there are also some who need to concentrate and repeat new material many Times. Students can have mechanical memory which helps them to memorize single elements like words or forms but they have a difficulty to remember general regularities. Students with logical memory can remember general regularities because they have an ability to analyse new material but they have a problem with learning new words or irregular forms of verbs.
What is storing?
It is second stage in memorizing. It is hidden stage. It can be durable if the new material is associated by students with older material and if it is often repeated.
In which stage of development intelligence plays a vital role and why?
Role of intelligence is bigger in initial stages of language learning. It becomes less important at advanced level when the role of knowledge and contents growes.
How does the fear level influences process of learning?
Low level of fear can help in concentration and mobilization. High level of fear can make difficulty for students to talk and can lead to school neurosis.