Development will be taken to mean ‘real-time learning that is affected by language processing abilities (Ellis, 1985). Pinker (as cited by Brown 2000) defines language as ‘a complex, specialised skill, which develops in the child spontaneously’. In this assignment, first language acquisition will refer to the language that is most used in the YL early years (Lightbown & Spada 2006). Ellis (1985) writes that second language acquisition is ‘the study of how learners learn an additional language after they have acquired their mother tongue’. SECTION ONE: HOW YOUNG LEARNERS
Genie was considered a “wild child.” There is a great deal of evidence from the case that supports the nature and nurture theories of language development. Noame Chomsky once declared that we acquire language because it is in our genes, and that we are born with the principle of language. He suggested that we are born with an innate Language Acquisition Device, which is a mental program for how to deal with language. It provides infants with rules of grammar and semantics. Unlike Chomsky, Skinner believed in the nurture theory.
Speech Milestones for Children A baby’s first words are music to a parent’s ears. While every child learns to speak at his or her own pace, general milestones can serve as a guide to normal speech and language development. Milestones can also provide a window of opportunity for parents and educators to optimize the development of language and cognition. The production and comprehension of languages seems to be common among human beings, but child language acquisition is a biologically-based process (Fromkin, 62), and there are some critical periods, as the major milestones, during the development. All children acquire language in the same way, regardless of what language they use or the number of languages they use.
An example of that is how parents in various cultures use language with their children. It is theorized that children possess the innate ability to learn language. There are several theories as to how adults play a part in the language development of a child. The first few theories that will be discussed is about how children learn language. The first theory is the nativist theory which states all kids have the yearning to understand the logic of their domain.
The child changes the original schema to fit the new piece of information. Piaget showed that young children think in very different ways compared to adults. According to Piaget, children are born with a very basic mental structure which is genetically inherited and evolved, on which all subsequent learning and knowledge is based. There are three basic components to Piagets Cognitive theory which are: 1 Schemas. The building blocks of knowledge 2 Processes that enable the transition from one stage to another (Equilibrium, assimilation and accommodation) 3 Stages of development (Sensory motor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational) Piaget believed that these stage are universal, i.e.
He was the first to note that children play an active role in gaining knowledge of the world. According to his theory, children can be thought of as little scientists who actively construct their knowledge and understanding of the world. JEAN PIAGETS KEY CONCEPTS 1. SCHEMAS: schemas are categories of knowledge that help us to interpret and understand the world. In Piaget's view, a schema includes both a category of knowledge and the process of obtaining that knowledge.
A part of Piaget’s theory of learning and thinking involves the participation of the child, who must construct and reconstruct knowledge. He claims that for a child to know and construct knowledge of the world, the child must act on objects. This action provides knowledge of those objects. Piaget’s technique to learning is known as a readiness approach. Readiness approach in developmental psychology states that children
Childhood is generally considered to be a natural biological stage of development or a modern idea or invention. Theories of childhood are concerned with what a child is, the nature of childhood, the purpose or function of childhood and how the idea of the child or childhood is used in society. It is argued whether childhood is biologically or socially constructed, nature or nurture. Functionalists argue that childhood should be explained in a biological way and child have and always will be compliant. They regard childhood as a stage in development unique to humans, the function of which is the preparation for becoming an adult.
Compare and contrast Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theories of cognitive development in children? Cognitive development is the progress of our skills as learners, also involved the process of thinking as well as mental activity for example attention, and problem solving. The cognitive development explains how individuals obtain and build up knowledge of themselves and their world. Jean Piaget was first to proposed the theory of cognitive development. Approach towards the theory of cognitive development was carryout by many others psychologist including lev vygotsky.
The focus is on the child as a whole and everything that enters into their world is “...a process by which children grow into the intellectual world around them” (Vygotsky 1978 p88). “Vygotsky argued that each culture has a set of artefacts, physical and mental tools, through which the culture is expressed and passed on” (Krause et al 2007). This was a particular point of interest in his theorizing of language and the role that it played in the development of the child. Language, counting systems and other culture specific knowledge components, were passed down through generations with few barriers. This connection between culture and development proved to be a significant link in the information exchange.