This document summarizes behaviorism and B.F. Skinner's theory of language learning. It discusses how behaviorism views language as a set of habits formed through stimulus-response associations. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning is described, emphasizing how reinforcement strengthens responses. The document concludes that since behaviorism views language as habits, language learning follows the same principles of habit formation through imitation, practice, and reinforcement - as outlined in Skinner's work.

1. Behaviorism Personal Notes
(3/9/23)
University Buddies
Keywords/Questions Notes
 Topic: Behaviorism
and B.F. Skinner
 Ivan Pavlov
 Skinner
 Operants
 In the past, no learning theories specific to language
learning existed. General theories on learning were
applied to language learning.
 One such general theory was behaviorism,
popularized by B.F. Skinner. It was applied to
language learning.
 Language is a set of habits, according to
behaviorism.
 Predecessor of B.F. Skinner in classic behaviorism.
 Habits are regularly associated responses to stimuli,
result of repeated stimulus-response cycle,
observable, not concerned with internal mental
processes, and automatic difficult to change.
 Published "Verbal Behavior" in 1957.
 Skinner's operant conditioning downplayed the
stimulus because we don't really know which
stimulus prompted a particular response.
 The behavior (consequence) after the response is
what reinforces the habit - reinforcement is more
powerful than association (in classical behaviorism).
 kinds of responses to stimuli that produce (and
therefore are governed) by the consequences they
produce, while respondents are elicited by
identifiable stimuli.

2.  Children imitate utterances and are rewarded or
corrected in their speech (reinforcement) in L1
language learning.
 L2 language learning proceeds the same way with L2
learners imitating utterances and getting rewarded
or corrected.
 Language learning is most successful when
language tasks are broken down into individual
stimulus-response links which could be practiced
and mastered.
 The language programmed into your mind (old
habits) interferes with learning the new language
(new habits) in L1 interference, which produces
errors.
 Errors are undesirable, evidence of non-learning (not
wrong learning), and might become habits if
uncorrected. Areas of potential error are the concern
of CAH.
 Transfer will take place from L1 to L2. Where L1 <>
L2, errors will result, while where L1 L2, easy and
rapid learning will result.
 A teaching approach based on behaviorism and
audio-lingualism uses imitation, practice, and
reinforcement since language is a set of habits.
 Conclusion: Since language is a set of habits, it
follows the same rules of general habit-formation.

3. Summary
 The self-learning video provide information about behaviorism and B.F. Skinner's
theory on language learning, focusing on habits as the set of responses to stimuli
resulting from repeated stimulus-response cycles. Skinner's operant conditioning
emphasizes reinforcement as a powerful tool to reinforce the behavior that
follows the response. Language learning follows the same rules of general habit-
formation, which can be improved through a teaching approach based on
behaviorism and audio-lingualism that uses imitation, practice, and
reinforcement. L1 interference produces errors that can become habits if
uncorrected, while transfer from L1 to L2 can result in errors or easy and rapid
learning, depending on the relationship between the two languages.