Motherese or caretaker speech provides a supportive environment for children to acquire language through imitation and practice. It features simplified language and positive reinforcement. When teaching English, teachers should incorporate aspects of motherese such as modeling, repetition, and confirmation to help students learn naturally. Behaviorism also influenced language teaching through an emphasis on imitation, practice, and habit formation. Children acquire language by imitating environmental cues and receiving feedback, though behaviorism alone cannot explain more complex grammar acquisition.

1. Camila Viñati Motherese or
caretaker speech.
Motherese or
caretaker speech is
essential to help
learners acquire a
new language
naturally. They
provide a secure
and supportive
environment which
gives the children
confidence to try
out language
during childhood.
When it comes to
ELT, teachers have
to remember and
put into practice the
features of this kind
of speech in order
to help learners
acquire the
language.
"English for Primary
Teachers"
A handbook of
activities &
classroom
language.
Mary Slaterrery &
Jan

2. Camila Viñati Behaviorism.
Behaviourism had a strong
influence on the audio-
lingual approach,which can still
be seen in some parts of the
worls. Behaviourists believe
that imitationand practice or habit
formation are key processes in
language development.
Children imitate to acquire
language, and this is possible
thanks to envirinment and
constant positive reinforcement.
As a result, children continue to
imitate and practice to form
proper habits, communicate,
shape language behavior.
Also, children go through two
main processes: IMITATION
"word-for-word repetition of all or
part of someone else's
utterance", PRACTICE "based
on repetitive manipulation of
form".
After new elements become
solid, children imitate new ones,
and apply previous ones to new
environments.
There are many examples that
show how these processes are
developed through language:
* patterns in language
*unfamiliar formulas
*question formation
*order of events
As a conclusion, children who
imitate less acquire language
faster than those who imitate a
lot. Behaviorism cannot explain
the acquisition of more complex
grammar that children acquire.
B.F.Skinner "The Primary
English
Teacher´s
Guide"
New Edition
Jean Brewster
and Gail Ellis
with Denis
Girard
"How Language
are Learned"
 Patsy M.
Lightbown-
Nina Spada