Behaviorist Theory

The behaviorist
theory
Principles and Theories of
Language Acquisition and Learning
LECTURER: Michelle F. Leviste

FETALCO, ANDREA NICOLE P.
BSED ENGLISH A
Learning OBJECTIVES
0 02 0
To understand
1To determine the behaviorism 3To analyze the
the theory of theory in theory of
language behaviorist
behaviorism
acquisition and theory
learning.
THE PRINCIPLE OF
BEHAVORIST THEORY
Behaviorism is a learning theory that studies

observable and measurable behavioral
changes, which result from stimulus-
response associations made by the learner
IVAN PAVLOG
This theory stems from the work of

PAVLOV who studied animal behavior,
and was able to condition a dog to
associate the ringing of a bell with
food. Pavlovian conditioning is known
as classical conditioning
THE PRINCIPLE OF BEHAVORIST
THEORY
Skinner introduced the theory of

operant conditioning (i.e., a
behavior followed by a reinforcer
results in an increased probability
of that behavior occurring in the
future; a behavior followed by a
punishment is weakened or
suppressed in the future).
THE PRINCIPLE OF BEHAVORIST
THEORY
Conversely, the learner's activity, be it thinking or doing, is
confined to the framework of "behavior", and is governed by the
stimulus-response-reinforcement process.
Examples: In Behaviorism
1.Follow the instructions.

2.Take the test.
3.Get the reward.
4.Learn.
BEHAVIORIST THEORY in
LANGUAGE LEARNING AND
AQUISITION
There are some basic theories advanced to describe how language is acquired,
learnt and taught. The behaviorist theory, Mentalist theory (Innatism),
Rationalist theory (otherwise called Cognitive theory), and
Interactionism are some of these theories.
These four fundamental theories of language acquisition cannot be

totally divorced from each other, for "the objectives of second
language learning are not necessarily entirely determined by native
language competence inevitably serves as a foil against which to set
second language learning." (H.H. Stem, .1983; 30).
Mother tongue and
foreign language learning
These five basic theories are, furthermore, very much
complementary to each other, serving different types of learners or
representing various cases of language learning. They must not
automatically make us presume that first and second language learning
are identical or alike processes, though second language learning is
strongly tied up with first language acquisition. Obviously, native
language growth must pave the way for foreign language growth. Then
these five basic language learning theories are fundamental pillars of
language learning whose relevance to education is undeniable.
THE backgroud OF BEHAVORIST
THEORY
The behaviorist theory believes that “infants learn oral
language from other human role models through a
process involving imitation, rewards, and practice.
Human role models in an infant’s environment provide
the stimuli and rewards,” (Cooter & Reutzel, 2004).
When a child attempt oral language or imitates the
sounds or speech patterns they are usually praised and
given affection for their efforts. Thus, praise and
affection becomes the rewards.
The major principle of the behaviorist theory rests on the
analyses of human behavior in observable stimulus-
response interaction and the association between them.
E.L.T. Thorndike was the first behaviorist to explore
the area that learning is the establishment of
associations on particular process of behavior and
consequences of that behavior.
thorndike
THE backgroud OF BEHAVORIST
THEORY
The behaviorist theory of stimulus-response
learning, particularly as developed in the operant
conditioning model of Skinner, considers all
learning to be the establishment of habits as a
result of reinforcement and reward" (wilga rivers,
1968)
Children develop a natural affinity to learn the language of their social
surroundings whose importance both over language learning and
teaching must never be underestimated. In this respect behaviorist
theory stresses the fact that "human and animal learning is a process
of habit formation. A highly complex learning task, according to this
theory may be learned by being broken' down into smail habits
BABBLING
ONE WORD
TWO WORD
TELEGRAPHIC
Stages of
language aquisition
STAGES OF LANGUAGE
AQUISITION
STAGES OF LANGUAGE
AQUISITION
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AS A RESULT OF
NURTURE
Behaviorists propose that a child’s environment is the most important factor in
first language acquisition, and if a child is exposed to ‘rich language,’ then
‘good habit formation,’ and proper language development will occur. It is
possible that first language acquisition includes speech imitation, but:
Children do not imitate everything they hear; they appear to be very selective
and only reproduce unassimilated language chunks. Therefore, their
replications seem to be controlled by an internal language-monitoring process.
·
WE ARE WIRED TO
ACQUIRE
KNOWLEDGE
The ‘Innateness Hypothesis’ proposed by linguist Noam Chomsky
supports the idea that language acquisition has a biological foundation
• Children acquire language sounds in a certain sequence, and the first sounds that children learn
are those that are common to all world languages: a stop consonant followed by an open vowel:
thus a child’s first utterances are usually those found in words for ‘mother’ and ‘father,’ sounds
such as ‘pa,’ ‘ma,’ ‘ba’ or ‘ta,’ as seen in French: maman, papa; Greek: mama, baba; Hebrew:
eema, aba.
• Children tend to learn language in the same sequence, suggesting that universality of exists and
the environment alone cannot be responsible for language acquisition.
• Children acquire function words such as ‘or’ and ‘on’ and the less salient sounds connected to
possessives, pluralization and third person singular in a certain order. Interestingly, the plural
‘s’ and other forms of ‘s’ are not all developed in unison
activity
Directions: Summarize the four main stages of normal language acquisition using the table
below. Put this in one whole yellow paper.
Stage Age Explanation
1. Babbling Stage
2. Holophrastic or
one-word stage
3. two-word stage
4. Telegraphic Stage
Thank you!
FETALCO, ANDREA NICOLE
BSED ENGLISH A

Behaviorist Theory

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The behaviorist

LECTURER: Michelle F. Leviste

Behaviorism is a learning theory that studies

This theory stems from the work of

Skinner introduced the theory of

1.Follow the instructions.

These four fundamental theories of language acquisition cannot be

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