REFLECTION 3

In this lesson we study first language acquisition and theories of it.

I learnt that children don’t care about forms. They care about meaning.
All children acquire their native language fluently and efficiently
without special instruction.
There are three theories of first language acquisition. One of them
is Behavioristic Approaches. We see ‘tabula rasa’ in it. And only
observable data is examined. But contrary to this idea, mediation
theory appeared. It says that it is not feasible to observe the abstract
things. And most important element for Behaviorism is imitation.
Second one is the Nativist Approaches which support we are born
with genetic capacity. If there is the capacity, they can be developed
by experience. And the most important thing in Nativist Approach is
to teach the language not piece by piece but using top-down (whole
lang. acquisition) method. Last but not least, Functional Approach
gives importance to children’s interaction with their environment,
with a complementary interaction between their cognitive capacities
and their linguistic experience. First of all, I didn’t understand UG and
Pivot grammar. But later, I see that regardless of where children come
from they make same mistake. UG deals with this. And also I
understand that for example there are two separate word classes, the
first class of words was called pivot and the other part is called ‘open’
class.
I think, I need to study Functional Approaches in detail. Because,
it meets our expectation more than other approaches do. In my
opinion, it can be more beneficial for students while teaching a foreign
language. I learnt the pros and cons of theories of first language
acquisition. That’s why, while teaching a foreign language to students,
they can guide me which theories can be successful or not in which
aspect.