The Behaviour Approach
It is amazing to
know that children can learn a language in a short period of time. There are
many theories that try to understand how children learn a language; one of them
is Behaviour Approach.
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| Figure 1. The mind behind this approach |
The
Behaviour Approach was developed by an American psychologist, author, inventor, and social
philosopher, Burrhus
Frederic Skinner (1904-1990) (refer to figure 1). This theory states that behaviourism of
human and animal is due to learning and reinforcement. Skinner believed
that behaviourist theory could be used to affect a learning history. He did an
experiment where he gathered a hungry rat and placed it in a small confinement
with a button (refer to figure 2). Whenever the rat pressed the button, it will received food. The result showed that after the rat
had received food, it continued to pressed the button, as the rat know that the
outcome come of is positive.
He did
another test with another rat where if it presses the button it will receive a
shock rather than receiving food. The outcome for this was that the rat pressed
the button less than the first rat. The overall result was that if an action proves
to have a positive effect, the organism is more likely to continue to repeat
this behaviour. However, if the outcome is negative, the organism is less
likely to repeat the behaviour.
 |
| Figure 2. Skinner's experiment with the rat |
The biggest
factor of theory is the environment that surrounds the organism; in this case
the child. The parent/guidance must be active during this progress, it
is important for them to become good role models, by modelling language for
their child to copy and providing them positive enforcement for them to
success. By this the child enriches he/her lexical development as the child
copies the lexemes heard. As well developing he/her syntaxic development as the
child learns key phrases during the interactions with other.
Example 1:
Parent: “Say bye bye”
Child: “Bye bye”
This shows
that the parent is requesting the child to say the word, ‘bye’. The child then
copy the parent. By this the parent is teaching the child that he/she should
say the word, ‘bye’ to person that is departing. Even though the child may not
know its semantic meaning of the word; ‘bye’, the child will get the idea of it
and use it whenever the same situation occurs. In order words the child’s behaviour would be
reinforced.
Example 2:
Parent: (pointing
at a doggie) “That a doggie”
Child: “Doggie?”
Parent: “Yes, doggie”
In this example the parent teaching the child what a dog is.
As the child repeats the phase, ‘doggie’, he/she would learn what it is (the appearance
of it) and will be able label it whenever the child sees it or other animal
similar to it.
As the two examples have shown, the Behaviour Approach is
an excellent method in helping the child in acquiring a language. As the children
mimic those around them, it will built up their list of lexemes and gradually
increase their syntax. This approach strongly shown that the guidance is the biggest impact toward the child. Their role is not just to take care of them
but to help them though the development in learning a language.
References:
Book:
Mulder, JM. Burridge, KB. Thomas, CT. (2001). Macmillan
English Language VCE Units 1 & 2, Macmillan Education Australia PTY LTD:
Claremont Street, South Yarra
Website:
-Northern Illinois University (2003), BF Skinner,
Behaviourism & Language Behaviour
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