Theories of Language Development and Its Implications in Teaching
Back to: Pedagogy of English – Unit 3
Language development is the process that enables children to understand and communicate using language during early childhood.
There are many theories of language development which are as follows.
John Dewey’s Theory Of Language Development
Main Aims of John Dewey’s Philosophy of Education
The main aims of John Dewey’s philosophy of education are as follows.
Social Efficiency
To Dewey,
“To him, school is a social institution. The school should be organized in such a way that the activities of the outer world are reflected.”
Education occurs when individuals participate in social activities. He believed that the school is an active instrument of social change and progress.
Education is Life
Dewey believed that
“education is not a preparation for life; it is life itself. The child lives in the present. The future is meaningless to him. Hence it is absurd to expect him to do things for some future preparation. As the child lives in the present, the educational process will be naturally based on the present needs and interests of the child.”
Education is Experience
Dewey emphasized education by, of, and for, experience. He believed that,
“Every new experience in education. An old experience is replaced by a new experience. The human race has gained experience in its struggle to meet the needs of life. This ‘struggle for existence is a continuous process.”
He added that education helps,
“the process of the reconstruction of experience, giving it a more socialized value through the medium of increased individual efficiency.”
Education should Combine Theory and Practice
Dewey believed that education should create a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical activities. He emphasised both thought and action. He said that abstract ideas should be followed by concrete applications.
Implications of Teaching
Dewey has revealed several methods of teaching based on his principles which are as follows.
1. Firstly, a social environment is highly essential for learning.
2. Secondly, learning begins only when the learner has an interest in learning.
3. Thirdly, children are interested in learning things that are related to their life.
4. A child begins to learn when he feels active.
5. Lastly, children take any fact as a whole.
Jean Piaget’s Theory
Jean Piaget is referred to as the father of cognitive development. He was a Swiss psychologist who observed the intellectual development of children during childhood. According to him,
“Cognitive development is a progressive reorganization of mental processes as a result of biological maturation and environmental experience.”
He studied the intellectual development of his three children.
According to Piaget, there are four stages of cognitive development which are as follows:
Sensorimotor Stage (Birth-2 years)
During this stage, the child starts interacting with the environment. The child starts developing motor senses such as sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. They start understanding the world through these senses. They start differentiating between animate and inanimate objects. At the end of this stage, children develop symbolic thought and also achieve object permanence.
Preoperational Stage (2-6/7 years)
In this stage, the child begins to represent the world in a symbolic manner. The child begins to use language and symbols. The child becomes capable of more complex mental representations.
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11/12years)
In this stage, the child starts learning rules such as conservation, decentration, and reversibility. Children start developing the ability to perform mental operations and start solving problems in their mind. However, their operations are limited to real events and tangible objects.
Formal Operational Stage (12 years and adult)
During this stage, the thoughts start becoming increasingly abstract and flexible. They start thinking about the consequences of their actions and start developing problem solving skills. They also develop deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning skills.
Implications of Teaching
The educational implications of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development theory are as follows:
1. Based on the developmental level of children, the curriculum should provide the required educational experience.
2. Classroom activities that encourage and assist self learning must be incorporated.
3. Practical learning situations must be included in the class.
4. Co-curricular activities that enhance children’s cognitive development must be given equal importance as curricular activities.
5. The teaching method must be simple to complex and the inclusion of the project teaching method is recommended.
6. Children learn and think differently from adults therefore, they should be taught accordingly.
7. The discovery approach to learning must be emphasised.
B.F. Skinner’s Behaviorist Theory Of Language
B.F. Skinner’s behaviorist theory of language was the widely accepted language acquisition theory during the late 1950s and 1960s. He believed that language is acquired under reinforcement principles. He argued that children acquire language through reinforcement practices and they associate words with meaning. He stated three main principles which include the following:
1. “Behavior that is positively reinforced will reoccur; intermittent reinforcement is particularly effective.”
2. “Information should be presented in small amounts so that responses can be reinforced (“shaping”)”.
3. “Reinforcements will generalize across similar stimuli (“stimulus generalization”) producing secondary conditioning.”
Noam Chomsky’s Theory Of Innateness
In 1957, Chomsky introduced the concept of language acquisition device (LAD) which was used to account for the language acquisition competence of human beings. He believed that the acquisition of the first language is the function of the human brain or an innate structure. The introduction of UG or Universal Grammar is also credited to Chomsky.
Chomsky believed that humans are born with:
1. LAD, a set of language learning tools.
2. LAD is an abstract part of the human mind which enables humans to acquire and produce language.
3. Since they are equipped with LAD, children can acquire rules of a language through hypothesis testing
4. LAD transforms these rules into basic grammar.
According to Chomsky,
“the LAD explains why children seem to have the innate ability to acquire a language and accounts for why no explicit teaching is required for a child to acquire a language.”
Chomsky rejected Skinner’s Behaviorism Theory because he felt that there is more to language acquisition than stimulus-response. He rejected the idea of operant conditioning. He also believed that the theory was lacking and believed that innateness was an important aspect of language acquisition.
Implications for Teaching
The educational implications of Chomsky’s theory of language development are as follows.
Teachers must cultivate growth
According to Chomsky,
“students, typically they come in interested, and the process of education is a way of driving that defect out of their minds. But if children’s normal interest is maintained or even aroused, they can do all kinds of things in ways we don’t understand.”
Teachers must keep the students engaged
Since learners come with an interest to learn, teachers must try their best to retain their interest and keep them engaged.
Focus On Student Learning
The main emphasis must be laid on students’ learning rather than teacher training.
Imbibe Natural Curiosity
The teachers must apply a method of teaching that can develop curiosity and interest among learners for learning naturally.
Personal Views Are Not Professional Expertise
Teachers must not confuse their introspection, experience, or personal judgment with professional expertise.
Lev Vygotsky’s Social Constructivist and Sociocultural Theory of Learning
According to Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory, cognitive abilities are gained through social guidance and construction. He suggests that children’s social constructivism theory can be nurtured in the following manner:
Learning should be Child-Centered
Vygotsky’s cognitive development focuses on child centered learning in the classroom.
Learners should be Active
In the classroom application of Vygotsky’s cognitive theory, learners play an active role instead of a passive one.
Social Interactions are Important
Vygotsky’s theory believes that cognitive functions are facilitated by social interactions due to which learners need to engage in the same.
Learning by discovery should be present
Vygotsky’s cognitive development theory also focuses on learning by discovery and exploration.
Focus should be on knowledge improvement
Vygotsky’s cognitive development theory enables learners to gain skills such as problem solving, inquiry, self determination, and critical thinking.
Challenging tasks must be included
Vygotsky’s theory also believes in the provision of challenging group tasks that are cooperative and collaborative.
Development of Learners must be fostered
Teachers must focus on all the round development of learners. Instructional methods should be such that it is comprehensible to learners and fosters their growth and development.
Educational Implications of Vygotsky’s Cognitive Development Theory
The educational implications of Vygotsky’s cognitive development theory are as follows:
Learning is Child-Centered
Vygotsky’s cognitive development focuses on child centered learning in the classroom.
Learners are Active
In the classroom application of Vygotsky’s cognitive theory, learners play an active role instead of a passive one.
Social Interactions are Important
Vygotsky’s theory believes that cognitive functions are facilitated by social interactions due to which learners need to engage in the same.
Learning by Discovery
Vygotsky’s cognitive development theory also focuses on learning by discovery and exploration.
Focuses on Knowledge Improvement
Vygotsky’s cognitive development theory enables learners to gain skills such as problem solving, inquiry, self determination, and critical thinking.
Challenging Tasks are Included
Vygotsky’s theory also believes in the provision of challenging groups tasks that are cooperative and collaborative.
Fosters The Development of Learners
Teachers must focus on all the round development of learners. Instructional methods should be such that it is comprehensible to learners and fosters their growth and development.
Vygotsky’s theory puts emphasis on social interactions for new knowledge and behaviour to be learned. According to Vygotsky,
“Cognitive abilities are socially guided and constructed.”
Teachers and parents should take all the above factors into consideration and ensure that every learner gains proper cognitive development.
