Linguistic Theories in the Classroom: Behaviourism vs. Nativism in Language Teaching

Certainly! To compare and contrast the perspectives of language teaching proposed by the behaviorist and nativist theorists, it's essential to first understand the foundational principles of each theory and then look at how they translate into practical methods of teaching language. ### Behaviourist Theory #### Key Principles: - **Learning through imitation and reinforcement:** Language is learned through environmental interaction. Children imitate the speech they hear, and their attempts are either reinforced (rewarded) or corrected. - **Role of Stimuli:** External stimuli play a crucial role. Positive reinforcement helps in shaping behavior, including language use. - **Observable Behaviors:** Focus is primarily on observable behaviors, ignoring the mental processes. #### Practical Examples: 1. **Drills and Repetition:** In a language class, students might engage in repetitive drills. For instance, they might practice verb conjugations repeatedly to reinforce correct language patterns. - **Example Activity:** The teacher says "I eat," and students repeat "I eat." The teacher then introduces "You eat," "He eats," and so on. Positive reinforcement is given for correct repetitions. 2. **Positive Reinforcement:** When a student uses correct grammar or vocabulary, the teacher provides praise or rewards, such as stickers or verbal encouragement. - **Example Activity:** A child says, "May I have some water?" The teacher responds, "Excellent sentence, well done!" ### Nativist Theory #### Key Principles: - **Innate Ability:** Language capability is inherent. Humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) that allows them to naturally acquire language. - **Universal Grammar:** There are universal grammatical structures common to all languages, which are hard-wired into the brain. - **Critical Period Hypothesis:** There is a critical period during which language acquisition occurs most effectively. #### Practical Examples: 1. **Natural Interaction:** Children are exposed to natural language use in rich, meaningful contexts rather than through structured drills. Focus is on exposure rather than direct teaching. - **Example Activity:** Engaging in storytelling sessions where children listen to and tell stories, stimulating their innate ability to grasp language structure and vocabulary. 2. **Encouraging Speech:** Instead of correcting errors directly, teachers might model the correct usage in a conversational setting, promoting natural learning. - **Example Activity:** A child might say, "Me go store." The teacher could respond with, "Yes, you are going to the store. What will you buy there?" ### Comparison: - **Learning Process:** Behaviourists focus on learning through environmental interaction and reinforcement, while nativists believe in an innate ability and internal processing for language acquisition. - **Instructional Methods:** Behaviourist methods involve drills, repetition, and reinforcement. Nativist methods emphasize natural interaction and exposure to language in meaningful context. - **Role of the Teacher:** In behaviourist approaches, the teacher plays a critical role in providing stimuli and reinforcement. In nativist approaches, the teacher facilitates an environment rich in language opportunities, relying on the child's innate ability to learn. ### Contrast: - **Nature vs. Nurture:** Behaviourists emphasize 'nurture' (environmental factors) while nativists emphasize 'nature' (innate capabilities). - **Focus on Errors:** Behaviourists often correct errors directly, believing that repeated and reinforced correct usage leads to learning. Nativists might allow some errors as part of the natural learning process, focusing instead on providing correct models for imitation. ### Practical Example Synthesis: To illustrate, imagine a behaviourist and a nativist teaching a second language, such as Spanish: - **Behaviourist:** The instructor uses flashcards with pictures and Spanish words, asking students to repeat after them. Correct responses are rewarded with praise or stickers. - **Activity:** The teacher says "perro" and shows a picture of a dog. Students repeat "perro" multiple times and receive praise for correct pronunciation. - **Nativist:** The instructor facilitates a storytelling session in Spanish, encouraging children to listen and tell their own stories. The teacher uses complete sentences and correct forms without overt corrections. - **Activity:** During a storytelling session, a student says, "El gato correr rápido." The teacher responds, "Sí, el gato corre rápido hacia el árbol." In conclusion, while both behaviourist and nativist approaches have significantly influenced language teaching, their differing views on the mechanisms of language acquisition lead to distinct methods and classroom dynamics. The behaviourist approach is characterized by structured, repetitive activities and reinforcement, whereas the nativist approach relies on natural language exposure and context-rich interactions to harness innate linguistic abilities.