Second Language Acquisition - ESL

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses methods and approaches to teaching English as a second language (ESL). It looks at the definitions of behaviorism, discusses the fundamental concepts underlying behaviorism and discusses how they are beneficial in teaching ESL. The paper then looks at other approaches to teaching ESL and some of the theories of second language acquisition.

From the Paper:

"There are barriers to ESL learning, which can include motivation (or lack of it), self-confidence, anxiety or peer pressure, to name but a few.
"Krashen (1981) still believes that there is a value to a classroom environment, rather than an immersion environment when learning a second language. He feels that in cases where a student tries to learn from immersion alone, that there will be times when the input received (by listening to others) will be overwhelming and therefore incomprehensible. However, by using a mixture of classroom and immersion methods, the student is better able to make sense of the input received in the short term, classroom situation. Accordingly, the lessons learned in the classroom will then provide the framework for learning through immersion in a more casual situation outside of the classroom."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cain, M. J. (2002). Fodor: Language, Mind and Philosophy. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Chomsky, N. (1975). Reflections on Language, New York: Pantheon.
• Cole, David. (2004). "The Chinese Room Argument." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, March. Available: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/.
• Dennett, Daniel C. (1987). The Intentional Stance. San Diego: Greenhaven.
• Driscoll, M.P. (2000). Psychology of learning for instruction (2nd edition). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

More papers on Second Language Acquisition - ESL:

• Term Paper # 101148 : "Interlanguage and Second Language Acquisition"
• Research Paper # 64875 : "Peer Assisted Second Language Acquisition"
• Research Paper # 26723 : "Second Language Acquisition in Early Childhood"

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