Innatism

Noam Chomsky



After the discussion had in class and the reading of the bibliography recommended,  analyse the following infographic and do the following role play activity.

A journalist interviews Chomsky with the intention of publishing an article that simplifies language acquisition theories for non-linguistics-minded readers.


Via: Voxy Blog

For centuries, researchers have studied the brain to find exactly where mechanisms for producing and interpreting language reside. Theories abound on how humans acquire new languages and how our developing brains learn to process languages. We take a look at the mysteries of language and the brain in the infographic below.

What gives humans the ability to acquire and learn languages?



Via: Voxy Blog


Speaking & Critical Thinking Practice

1. What is the most surprising fact that you discovered from this infographic?

2. Imagine that you are a doctor, and one of your patients has suffered a severe head injury. You show him a picture of three people in a kitchen and ask him to describe what is going on. He answers:

Wife is dry dishes. Water down! Oh boy! Okay Awright. Okay …Cookie is down…fall, and girl, okay, girl…boy…um…

How would you diagnose him? Why?

3. How might a patient with Wernicke’s aphasia describe the same image (from question 2 above) of three people in a kitchen?

4. Are biological or environmental factors a greater influence on how we learn language?

5. Do you believe in the critical period hypothesis? Why or why not? Give evidence from your own language learning experiences.

Behaviourism

Watch the following avatar, read the bibliography proposed and, by means of an avatar, too, draw conclusions about advantages and disadvantages of this theory. Let's see which avatar you choose to answer.

Skinner's rat

 The following videos will help you with the previous task.

 Classical Conditioning

Reinforcement and Punishment

Operant Conditioning

What does it Mean to Teach?

Teaching 21st century students

1) Watch the following prezi and reflect on what it means to teach 21st century students.
2) Take a piece of paper to answer the questions asked by the author while you are watching and then post your answers.



3) Do you agree with the author?
4) Do you think that we are on the right way to assist our students' needs? Post your ideas.

Teaching is like ...
                             gardening
                                                                                                                                                                                 




What is teaching like to you?
Support your answer.

Welcome 2nd year students!

Here we'll work together, sharing ideas, analysing texts and videos, doing different tasks, making productions, etc.

Besides, we'll improve our use of technology, learn new tools to express ourselves by this means and be able to work cooperatively with other students and teachers.

I hope you'll enjoy and take advantage of  this journey.

Looking forward to reading you soon,

Patricia Martin