UNIT 1 - Second language Learning - SEM2

What is the key distinction between acquisition and learning in L2 development?

• Acquisition occurs in formal instruction, while learning happens in natural communication

• Acquisition is an implicit process, while learning is instruction-based

• Learning happens first, and then acquisition follows

According to Piske & Young-Scholten (2009), can a person have two L1s?

• No, an individual can only have one dominant mother tongue

• Yes, but only if both languages are learned simultaneously before age 3

• Yes, one L1 may shift to another depending on external variables

What is a defining feature of behaviorism in L2 learning?

• Language is a habit structure reinforced through stimulus-response associations

• Learners actively construct language through hypothesis testing

• L2 learning is an innate biological process independent of external stimuli

What is the primary difference between classical and operant conditioning in behaviorism?

• Classical conditioning is based on reinforcement, while operant conditioning is based on automatic responses

• Classical conditioning involves passive associations, while operant conditioning reinforces behaviors through reward

• Operant conditioning applies only to L1, while classical conditioning applies to L2

What does Chomsky’s Language Acquisition Device (LAD) propose?

• Language learning is entirely dependent on social interactions

• Humans have an innate cognitive mechanism for acquiring language

• Language learning is a direct result of stimulus-response conditioning

How does mentalism contrast with behaviorism in L2 learning?

• Mentalism views language as a product of innate cognitive structures, whereas behaviorism sees it as habit formation

• Mentalism emphasizes external reinforcement, while behaviorism focuses on internal cognitive structures

• Both theories argue that language learning is primarily based on exposure to comprehensible input

In constructivism, how do cognitive and social constructivism differ?

• Cognitive constructivism focuses on individual learning processes, while social constructivism emphasizes interaction

• Cognitive constructivism is concerned with social identity, while social constructivism ignores social influence

• Social constructivism applies to L1 learning, whereas cognitive constructivism is specific to L2 learning

According to Vygotsky, what role does the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) play in L2 learning?

• It refers to the ideal stage for memorizing vocabulary lists

• It highlights the gap between what learners can do alone and what they can achieve with assistance

• It suggests that L2 learners must pass through fixed stages of grammatical development

What was the main finding of early SLA research (1960s-1970s) regarding grammatical acquisition?

• Learners followed a universal and invariable sequence in acquiring grammatical structures

• L1 transfer was the dominant factor in L2 grammar development

• Grammar acquisition varied completely depending on instructional methods

During the expansion phase of SLA research, what was one of the key developments?

• The rejection of grammar-focused instruction

• The introduction of task-based language teaching

• The removal of pragmatic considerations from SLA research