Skill-based theories of second-language acquisition

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Skill-based theories of second-language acquisition are theories of second-language acquisition based on models of skill acquisition in cognitive psychology. These theories conceive of second-language acquisition as being learned in the same way as any other skill, such as learning to drive a car or play the piano. That is, they see practice as the key ingredient of language acquisition. The most well-known of these theories is based on John Anderson's adaptive control of thought model. [1]

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Adaptive control of thought

The adaptive control of thought model assumes a distinction between declarative knowledge, knowledge that is conscious and consists of facts, [2] and procedural knowledge, knowledge of how an activity is done. [3] [4] In this model, skill acquisition is seen as a progression from declarative to procedural knowledge. [4] Adaptive control of thought is a general model of cognition, and second-language acquisition is just one application of a wide area of research in cognitive psychology. [5] Second-language acquisition is seen as a progression through three stages, declarative, procedural, and autonomous. [5]

Notes

  1. VanPatten & Benati 2010 , pp. 149–150, "Skill/s".
  2. Richards & Schmidt 2009, "Declarative knowledge".
  3. Richards & Schmidt 2009, "Procedural knowledge".
  4. 1 2 Richards & Schmidt 2009, "Adaptive control of thought".
  5. 1 2 VanPatten & Benati 2010 , p. 62, "Adaptive Control of Thought model".

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