Behaviorism

Did you know that the behaviorist theory……is actually a theory of native language learning, and was basically a reaction to traditional grammar?

…is a psychological theory in essence?

Who are the proponents of Behaviorism?

•J. B. Watson

•B. F. Skinner

•Leonard Bloomfield

•Pavlov

•Fries

Language as :

: a set of arbitrary symbols

: a system of habits

: acquired behavior

: surface structure

Basic Tenets Language is primarily spoken, and secondarily written.

Language learning is a mechanical process that leads to habit-formation.

The stimulus-response chain is based on conditioning.

All learning is the establishment of habits as the result of reinforcement and reward.

Each person can learn equally if the conditions in which the learning takes place are the same for each person. `

Counter-arguments on the Behaviorist Theory of Language Learning

1. Children’s imitation of structures show little variation and innovation.

2. Habit-formation exercises may not naturally promote intrinsically-oriented language learning.

3. Obstructions made on instinctive learning will doubtlessly harm the creative way of learning.

4. The rate of social influence on learning is not satisfactorily explained.

5. It is highly unlikely for learning to be the same for each individual.

6. The main strategies can only be true for the early stages of learning.

7. Stimulus and Response cannot always take account for the complicated language learning process.

Should we totally do away with behaviorist methods?

Behaviorism in Language Learning Methods

Audio-lingual Method

Total Physical Response

Silent Way

Situational Language Teaching (J.R. Firth, M.A.K. Halliday)