Chapter 2 Question

My first theory is the Behavioral Approach. The Behavioral Approach includes only observable responses. Unfortunately, observations tell us very little about the thinking process and how students arrived at their response. Behaviorist believe in reinforcement that makes a response conditioned or occur more frequently. B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning states that verbal behavior is controlled by it's consequences. When you reward someone, the behavior is repeated and maintained. When you give a consequence, like punishing, eventually the behavior weaken or completely stop. I feel that teachers are constantly trying to condition a more desired behavior in the classroom. Usually teachers have a behavior chart or system that keeps track of how a student is doing that day. Teachers reward students by giving them praise, special privileges, or prizes. Teachers hope that this positive reinforcement will condition the students to behave properly at all times. When a student is misbehaving, there are often consequences like losing recess time, extra work, moving seats, or going to the principal's office. I do not feel that these consequences work all the time. I've been in classrooms, where the same student is constantly misbehaving. In this case, I would change the consequence to something more effective.

Another theory is the Nativist Approach which believes that we were born with a language acquisition device. Chomsky declared that the LAD was the reason why children mastered their native language so quickly. During the ages of 0-3, we absorb the language around us without having to speak it. During this time, there is no explicit instruction teaching toddlers grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing. They pick up the language from listening to others converse. Although there is errors in their speech, it is evident that they are aware of the rules in their language.

I also really liked the behavioral approach. I chose this approach because it focuses on "observable responses and the relationships and associations between the responses and events in the world surrounding them." (Brown pg. 26) Based on my experiences with working with ESL children I noticed that since they are unable to communicate much or don't have much knowledge due to the fact that they are 5yr old's and are ESL beginners level alot of judgement from the teachers side comes from observation. For example, how they communicate with peers, the language they use and the way they try to interact with the environment when they speak bear minimum English. I also chose this theory because it reinforces positive behave which I noticed to be very effecting with the young students that I work with. I noticed that when I reinforce them to speak English by saying good job or giving them a sticker or something at the end of class for communicating with their peers in English I noticed the behavior reoccurs again when they are encouraged to continue this behavior. I would use this behavior theory in my own classroom because I believe that if behavior is reinforced, supported and noticed the behavior will most likely reoccur again. I also liked the functional approach because it supports social interaction. Working with young ELL students I notice that they learn more from each other and through communication with each other rather then me always presenting them with information. I would use this approach in my classroom by doing group work with my students that would encourage them to socialize with each other and learn from each other.

I really believe in the Nativist Approach, I think all humans are born with the instinct to communicate and pick up on language easily. (Since I don't have the book I researched some facts about the theories online) I think its really important to help young kids get enthused about learning more language when they are young, and especially giving them a chance to learn a second language while their brains can still pick it up easily. 
The Functional approach I like as well, I feel like it can go along with the Nativist approach. You can't learn a new language without practice, and you definitely cant learn by constant paper work