Here I share a glossary with the definitions of the most famous childhood educational theories about language acquisition and learning.

1. The Glossary
By: Francisco Javier Taveras

2. INDEX
• Acquisition vs learning
• Approach
• Critical Period
• Digital literacy vs literacy
• E.F.L
• E.S.L
• L.A.D
• Mother tongue and target tongue
• Multiple intelligences
• Phonics
• Silent period
• T.P.R
• Z.P.D

3. Acquisition vs learning
Acquisition Learning
Implicit subconscius Explicit consciuos
Informal situations Formal situations
Uses grammatical “free!” Uses grammatical rules
Depends on attitude Depends on aptitude
Stable order of acquisition Simple to complex order of learning

4. Approach
Is a set of principles about teching including
views on method, syllabus, and philosophy of
language and learning. Approaches have
theorical backing with practical aplications.

5. Critical period
Is the hypothesis that if somebody does not
acquire a first language before a certain time
(around puberty), they will lose the ability to
acquire language. Many experts think that the
language acquisition it will be impossible after
this point has been reached and other many
experts think that it will be only very difficult
after this point has been reached.

6. Digital literacy vs literacy
• Digital literacy: the ability to use digital technology,
includes the ability to read and interpret media, to
reproduce data and images through digital
manipulation, evaluate, use and create information.
• Literacy: the ability to use available symbol systems
that are fundamental to learning and teaching, in
conclusion, the ability to read and write.

7. E.F.L & E.S.L
• English as a foreign language: it is a term
refered to non-native speaker who is learning
english in a non-native english enviroment.
• English as a secundary language: it is a term
refered to non-native speaker who is learning
english in a native english enviroment.

8. Language acquisition device (L.A.D)
L.A.D is a part of Noam Chomsky’s language
acquisition hypothesis. Is a system of principles
based on that children are born with this helps
them learn language, and accounts for the order in
which children learn structures, and the mistakes
they make as they learn.
Second language learning theory proposes that
acquisition in second and subsequent languages,
and learning programs, have to create the
conditions for it.

9. Mother tongue & target tongue
• Mother tongue: the language which a person
has grown up speaking from early childhood.
• Target tongue: is the language that learners
are studying.

10. Multiple intelligences
The theory of multiple intelligences is a theory
of intelligences that differentiates they into
specific (primarily sensory) “modalities”, rather
than seeing intelligence as dominated by a
single general ability. The main defender of this
theory is Howard Gardner.

11. Phonics
Phonics is a method of teaching, reading and
writing of the english language by developing
learners's phonemic awareness (the ability to
hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes).

12. Silent period
Is a period of time during which students feel
unable to communicate orally on the foreign
language.

13. Total Physical Response (T.P.R)
T.P.R is an approach to teaching a
second/foreign language, based on listening
linked to physical activities which are designed
to reinforce comprenheison.

14. Zone of Proximal Development (Z.P.D)
It was developed by Vygotsky. The zone of
proximal development is the area that a learner
has already mastered (the actual level of
development) and what the learner achieves
when provide him with educational support
(potential development).

15. That’s all
I hope you find it useful!!