​ theories of language learning

​ Behaviorism:
● Founder: B.F. Skinner
● Key Concepts: Behaviorism proposes that language learning occurs
through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning. According to this
theory, language is acquired through a process of stimulus-response,
where learners imitate the language they hear and are rewarded for
correct responses.
​ Cognitive Code Learning:
● Founder: Robert Lado
● Key Concepts: Cognitive code learning emphasizes the importance of
understanding the underlying rules and structures of a language. Learners
are encouraged to analyze language patterns and apply deductive
reasoning to language learning tasks.
​ Creative Construction:
● Founder: Noam Chomsky
● Key Concepts: Creative construction, also known as nativism, posits that
language learning is facilitated by an innate language acquisition device
(LAD) that allows learners to generate language creatively. Chomsky
argued that children possess an innate capacity for language and are able
to construct grammatically correct sentences without explicit instruction.
​ Skill Learning:
● Founder: Eric Lenneberg
● Key Concepts: Skill learning views language acquisition as a process
similar to acquiring other skills, such as riding a bike or playing a musical
instrument. Learners develop language proficiency through practice,
repetition, and gradual improvement over time.
​ Interactional Theory:
● Founder: Michael Halliday
● Key Concepts: Interactional theory emphasizes the role of social
interaction in language learning. Halliday proposed that language
development occurs through meaningful interactions with others, where
learners engage in conversation, negotiation of meaning, and language
play.
​ Socio-cultural Learning Theory:
● Founder: Lev Vygotsky
● Key Concepts: Socio-cultural learning theory emphasizes the importance
of cultural and social factors in language development. Vygotsky argued
 that language learning is mediated by social interactions and cultural
practices, with learners acquiring language through participation in
meaningful activities within their sociocultural context.
​ Constructivism:
● Founder: Jean Piaget
● Key Concepts: Constructivism posits that learners actively construct their
understanding of language through personal experiences, interactions,
and reflection. Piaget emphasized the role of cognitive development and
schema-building in language acquisition, with learners continuously
adapting their mental structures based on new experiences.
​ Role of Individual Factors:
● Key Concepts: This perspective acknowledges that language learning is
influenced by individual differences such as motivation, aptitude, learning
styles, and personality traits. Learners may vary in their preferred learning
strategies, rate of progress, and ultimate proficiency in the target
language.