This document discusses different theories of second language learning, including: 1. Classical conditioning views learning as acquiring new habits through stimulus and response, but learners may revert to their first language due to lack of target language knowledge or for effective communication. 2. The creative view sees language learning as more than habit formation, as learners compare, contrast, make analogies, and are conscious of learning processes. 3. When comparing adult and child second language learners, both have advantages and disadvantages, as adults can reason more effectively but children pronounce better and are not limited to an adult level in the new language.

1. SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING
Classical Conditioning
Stimulus -Response

2. Defining Learning in the light of
Classical Conditioning Theory
• Learning is an observable change of performance
through acquiring a set of new habits involving
the mechanism of stimulus and response.
• In a foreign language situation , learners are
faced with interference from the L1 or the
mother tongue , which is inevitable.
• This interference can be an obstacle to effective
communication in the target language.

3. Different view of L1 interference
• Netwark (1996) , suggests that L1 does not really interfere
but learners fall back to the mother tongue , when there is
lack in the knowledge of the target language .
• Another aspect of conditioning is rewarding.
• Conclusion:
• In the behaviourist view all learning results automatically
and mechanically from stimulus and response.
• Notice:
• When does a foreign language learner or a second
language learner revert to his mother tongue? Even if he is
efficent in the target language ?!

4. CREATIVE LEARNING
• This view sees Language more than habit
formation .
• Learners bring to the situation their own creative
abilities :
• They compare and contrast..
• They make analogies.
• They are interactive and influential.
• They are conscious of at least a part of the
learning processes.

5. A comparison between Adult and
Children in ESL /EFL
• Adults can never be as
good as children learning
a language.
• Adults have to work at
learning a language.
• An adult can reason more
effectively.
• In vocabulary and
grammar , an adult
performs more correctly.
• Children are good
language learners.
• It is said that children do
not.
• On theother hand, a child
cannot.
• A child pronouces better.
• A child cannot get to the
adult level in the foreign
language.

6. • It is the meaning of words and sentences
which is crucial to language learning.
• Language cannot be learned without the
situation of a meaningful use.
• The nature of Language is within
the bounds of grammaticality.
The meaningful use of Language