CHAPTER 2:Theoretical Perspectives and

Contexts of Language Development

Language Development in Early Childhood EducationFourth Edition

Beverly W. Otto

Adapted by Dr. Laura Taddei

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-2

Theoretical Perspectives: An Overview

•Nativist

• Cognitive Developmental

• Behaviorist

• Interactionist

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-3

Small group activity

Groups will research the theoretical perspectives and come up with a list of important information to share with other groups. You can use the board or flip chart paper to create your list:

Group 1 – Nativist

Group 2 – Cognitive Development

Group 3 – Behavorist

Group 4 - Interactionist

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-4

Nativist Perspective

• Emphasizes inborn or innate human capabilities

•Noam Chomsky

• Universal grammar

• Language acquisition device/LAD

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-5

Implications of Nativist Perspective for Early Childhood

Classrooms

• Provide opportunities to explore language

• Activate LAD

• Read-alouds and book sharing

• Opportunities to draw and write

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-6

Cognitive Developmental Perspective

• Language is acquired as maturation occurs and cognitive competencies develop• Jean Piaget•No unique language learning mechanism

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-7

Cognitive Developmental Perspective, continued

• Key concepts• Sensorimotor stage•Object permanence• Symbolic representation• Schemata• Preoperational stage

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-8

Object Permanence

Example of Object Permanence

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-9

Implications of Cognitive Developmental Perspective

•Match learning activities with child’s stage

of cognitive development

• Sensorimotor stage

• Preoperational stage

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-10

Behaviorist Perspective

• Associations between stimuli, responses, and events following the response

• Language is ‘taught’ through imitative speech and reinforcement

• B.F. Skinner

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-11

Implications of the Behaviorist Perspective

• Focus on stimuli and reinforcements

children experience which involve language

use

• Positive reinforcement

•Repetition and imitation

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-12

Interactionist Perspective

• Sociocultural interaction•Vygotsky• Zone of proximal development/ZPD•Bruner• Language acquisition support system/LASS

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-13

Role of Environment•Cambourne’s conditions• Immersion•Demonstration• Engagement• Expectations•Responsibility•Approximations• Employment•Response

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-14

Implications of the Interactionist Perspective

•Wide range of social interactions

• Positive emotional context

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-15

Brain’s Role in Language Development

•Human brain appears to be ‘pre-wired’ for language

• Language development occurs as specific regions of brain mature

• Social interaction is critical for development

• Language Development and the Brain - Youtube video

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-16

Terms – Create a Foldable

Choose the kind of foldable you want to create.

Please look up the key concepts in the next two slides and create the foldable.

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-17

Key Concepts

•Neurolinguistics

• Central nervous system

•Neurons

• Axons

•Dendrites

•Myelin sheath

• Axon terminal

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-18

Key Concepts, continued

• Synapse

• Peripheral nervous system

• Cerebral cortex

• Cerebellum

•Hemispheres

• Lateralization

• Aphasia

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-19

Contexts of Language Development

•Home

• Community

• School

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-20

Activity – Role Play – interaction patterns

Small group activity where groups will develop examples of the interaction patterns described in Chapter 2. Groups will be in groups of 2 to 3 students; Each group will be assigned an interaction pattern; groups write examples in a scene or vignette; describe the setting; how this interaction encourages language development.

Groups can role play their scene/vignette for the class; other groups will ask questions

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-21

Patterns of Interaction

• Eye contact and shared reference

• Communication loop

• Child-directed speech

• Verbal mapping

•Questioning

• Linguistic scaffolding

•Mediation

Otto. Language Development in Early Childhood Education, 4e. © 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2-22

Home, Community and School Contexts

• Cultural diversity

• Social routines

• Socioeconomic status

• Learning environment and curriculum in school

• Critical role of classroom teacher