Class outline: Class #4

LLSS 556: First and Second Language Development

Home Courses Handouts Vision Vita e-mail me

click here to return to the course home page
February 21, 2008 (week #5)

Topic: Behaviorism, cont.
Class Outline:

1.) Announcements and quick questions and quandaries:

You may substitute Mitchell and Myles (2004) for Cowie (1999).

2.) Recap presentation on behaviorism

3.) Small group activity:

Get into four small groups.

Each group will receive information about one audio-lingual instructional strategy.

Figure out how to teach your strategy to the rest of the class.

4.) Quick write: "Why do you think many teachers still use audio-lingual strategies in their ESL (English as Second Language) or foreign language classrooms? Could you identify other audio-lingual or grammar translation strategies that are used in popular ESL/Foreign programs."

5.) Interactive presentation: Explaining the critique of a behavioral explanation of language development

6.) Minute paper

.

.

Overheads:
PowerPoint
Handouts:
The strategies on audiolingual are posted on this website and we will be
using them in the classroom: http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/hutt/esl/almstrat.htm
NOTE: To view PDF documents you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader

.

Readings
Note: All of the readings, required and recommended, can be found on the electronic reserves at Zimmerman library. Please contact the instructor for the course password.
Author: Chomsky (1959)

1.) Chomsky disagrees with Skinner's “functional analysis” of verbal behavior. Why?

2.) In Chomsky's review he mentions that he appeals “to automatic self-reinforcement” as opposed to Skinner's reinforcment. Why? Explain.

3.) What argument does Chomsky give to Skinner's “verbal behavior” description?

4.) In sections 3 and 4, Chomsky examines the following concepts: stimulus, response, and reinforcement. What are his conclusions about language development?

5.) What is “hypothesis-formulating” mentioned in section XI? (Note: this will be discussed more in the following weeks)

5.) Now that you've read this article:

...what seem to be some important concepts in this reading?

...what are some new terms for you?

...what new questions do you have?

.

Extra Resources
Website Links:

This essay about behavior from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides clear explanation of Skinner and his critic: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/

See these wikipedia entries about:

the audiolingual method

the audio-lingual method

grammar translation

Concise explanation of the grammar-translation method, with examples of using this method to teach German: http://www.nthuleen.com/papers/720report.html

This page a clear definition of negative reinforcement, with two great examples: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/proj/nru/nr.html

.

Home

Courses

Handouts

Vision

Vita

e-mail me

Julia Scherba de Valenzuela, Ph.D.

Return to top

Last updated: February 15, 2008

1.)	Announcements and quick questions and quandaries: You may substitute Mitchell and Myles (2004) for Cowie (1999).
2.)	Recap presentation on behaviorism
3.)	Small group activity: Get into four small groups. Each group will receive information about one audio-lingual instructional strategy. Figure out how to teach your strategy to the rest of the class.
4.)	Quick write: "Why do you think many teachers still use audio-lingual strategies in their ESL (English as Second Language) or foreign language classrooms? Could you identify other audio-lingual or grammar translation strategies that are used in popular ESL/Foreign programs."
5.)	Interactive presentation: Explaining the critique of a behavioral explanation of language development
6.)	Minute paper

1.)	Chomsky disagrees with Skinner's “functional analysis” of verbal behavior. Why?
2.)	In Chomsky's review he mentions that he appeals “to automatic self-reinforcement” as opposed to Skinner's reinforcment. Why? Explain.
3.)	What argument does Chomsky give to Skinner's “verbal behavior” description?
4.)	In sections 3 and 4, Chomsky examines the following concepts: stimulus, response, and reinforcement. What are his conclusions about language development?
5.)	What is “hypothesis-formulating” mentioned in section XI? (Note: this will be discussed more in the following weeks)
5.)	Now that you've read this article: ...what seem to be some important concepts in this reading? ...what are some new terms for you? ...what new questions do you have?