SLA

Second-Language Acquisition

The process of learning a language after the first language has been acquired, which can be influenced by theories of first-language acquisition.

First-Language Acquisition

The natural process through which children learn their first language, often seen as a model for second-language acquisition.

Krashen's Theory

The difference between acquiring a language (unconscious process) and learning a language (conscious, organized process).

Total Physical Response

A language teaching method developed by James Asher that emphasizes physical movement in learning.

Cognitive Process

The mental activities involved in learning a language, which may include modeling, correction, and context.

Competence vs Performance

The distinction made by Chomsky between a speaker's implicit knowledge of grammar (competence) and their actual use of language (performance).

Use vs Usage

The difference between the formal structures of a language (usage) and how it is used in real communication (use).

Acquisition vs Learning

Krashen's distinction where acquisition is a natural process and learning is a formal, rule-focused procedure.

Deductive Processing

A method of learning where rules are applied to data, often leading to correct transformations in language.

Inductive Processing

A method of learning where learners derive rules from examples, which may lead to errors before refinement.

Behaviourism

A theory of learning based on stimulus-response-reinforcement, often applied in language teaching.

Cognitivism

A theory that emphasizes the unpredictable nature of language use and the learner's ability to innovate.

Interlanguage

The evolving language system that learners create as they progress towards full proficiency in a target language.

Acquisition Order

The idea that learners acquire language structures in a stable sequence, though this concept is debated.

Universal Grammar

Chomsky's theory that all languages share common features due to the structure of the human mind.

Language Acquisition Device

The hypothetical brain mechanism that enables children to learn language efficiently.

Active Construction of Grammar

A theory suggesting that learners actively hypothesize and refine language rules based on input.

Connectionist Theory

A theory proposing that language learning is based on neural connections formed by frequency of exposure to language.

Social Constructivist Theory

The idea that learning is constructed through social interaction, contrasting with traditional transmission models.

Input Hypothesis

Krashen's theory that effective language input should be comprehensible and slightly above the learner's current level.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's concept that learning occurs when tasks are appropriately challenging for the learner.