Behaviourist Theory (Emperical Approach)

          Introduction

Language is a construct human work in every day to express a wide range of emotions, ideas, concepts and actions. There are many major and minor theories of language learning. All the theories are psychological. There are several psychological theories regarding language learning. Some of these theories are-

1. Language Acquisition Device (LAD); 

2. Theory of Acculturation Model;

3. The Behaviourist Theory;

4. The Cognitive Theory. 

Noam Chomsky proposes that there is a theoretical language device somewhere in our brains that is responsible for learning a language. According to him in LAD, every child has the instinctive mental capacity that helps it to acquire second language. For this, Noam Chomsky is universally appreciated. 

Theory of acculteration Model was introduced by John Schumann. This theory describes the process by which immigrants pick up a new language while being completely immersed in that language.

  Behaviourist Theory of language learning

According to the behaviorism, a radical  variant of which was put forward by Skinner, all behaviour is no more than a response to external stimuli and there is no innate programming within human being to learn a language and birth. 

The behaviourist school of psychology based its theories on empirical evidence obtained from experiments with animals. These experiments focused on how the animals like the dog reacted to the primary drive like hunger. Learning is possible only when there is a change in the behaviour of the animal. Here, the animal is capable to respond to a much wider range of stimuli. Even if an unfamiliar stimulus is provided, the animal is capable of developing a response to it.
Thus the term "stimulus" and "response" are important in the Behaviourist theory of language learning. To the Behaviourist, learning seems to be an associative process. It is the result of "conditioning". For example, when the bell is rung and the dog is given meat, it comes to associate with the bell with food. The dog begins to salivate (response) whenever it hears the bell (stimulus) even when the bell is not accompanied by the appearance of food. Thus, the dog has been conditioned to salivate when it hears the bell. The dog has, thus, developed a new pattern of behaviour. This change from the pattern of behaviour to another is called "conditioned learning". Thus, another important term is the theory is "conditioning".
 According to the Behaviourists, the language learning process can be defined in terms of "conditioning". They argue that the teaching of language skills is essentially a process of "habit forming". So in the behaviourist approach emphasis is laid on the repetition, imitation and drill.
To the behaviourists, learning is based on the correct response to a given stimulus. The teacher provides the stimulus and expects a response from the learner. The teacher uses pattern practice extensively. With this exercise, she provides controlled stimuli and is able to draw out particular responses. In addition, the behaviorist believe in immediate reinforcement of correct responses. The teacher starts with the simplest learning and proceeds to the more advanced steps. The students follow the teacher and need to make some responses. One more aspect of the behaviorist theory is that it considers motivation a vital aspect in learning. It is claimed that the motivated learner will learn more readily and retain his learning for longer time.

  Principles/Implications of Behaviourism

The implications of the Behaviourist theory of language learning/ teaching, particularly relevant to the teacher may be summarised as follows: -

  1. Learning seems to be an associative process. 

There seems to be an association between stimulus and response. When somebody give stimulus then we get a response. For example, when teacher enters a room (stimulus) then students stand up (response).

  2. It is based on the correct response to a given stimulus.

When certain stimulus provided the correct response should be given. The learning process go well if the proper response is given to stimulus. For example, if the teacher enters in the class, the student stand up but if the students does not stand up the teacher doesn't get the proper response.

  3. Language is learnt only through the use of practice.

This theory give the emphasis on practice. If we do the practice then we are habituated to give the proper response to stimulus. If the learner is more exposed to the use of language, the chances of learning are better. Repetation of action is important for the practice.

  4. The production of language depends on the situation which makes its use necessary.

Language cannot be taught in the absence of situation. The teacher has to introduce each new pattern of language in a meaningful situation.

  5. Spoken language comes before the written language.

Behaviourist believes this theory. The child began to listen first point after listening that he speaks that language and later writing. Four skills i.e; learning, speaking, listening and writing are very important.

  6. Motivation is the vital aspect in learning.

Behaviourist considers motivation is important in learning. Motivated learner will learn more readily and retain his learning for a longer time. For example, if the teacher motivates the student to do some activity student will learn rapidly that activity. 

  7. Every new item learnt must be reinforced by further practice before further learning begins.

Immediate reinforcement requires correct responses. The teachers starts with the simplest learning and proceeds to more advanced steps. The students follow the teacher and need to make some responses. For this practice is required. Information, understanding and application is also required for learning language.

  8. The production of correct linguistic response to the stimulus require efforts.

Efforts are important for getting the proper response. Learning is based on the correct response to a given stimulus. The teacher provides the stimulus and expects a response from the learner. The teacher use pattern practice extensively. Therefore, teacher has to take efforts from the students to get proper response.

 Advantages of Behaviourist Theory

• Its use of rigorous, experimental methods of research enhances the credibility of science as a scientific discipline.
• It provides strong arguments for the nurture side of the nature /nurture debate.
• The approach has provided a number of practical applications and techniques to shape behaviour, e.g. the use of of rewards in education. 
• It refers to the natural way of language learning. 
• It leads the learner towards proper methods of language by emerging ourselves in that environment. 
• It helps the learners to do more practice through stimulus.
•  It enhances the ability to understand and learning the language faster.
• It provides necessary situation for the growth of learners linguistic competence.
• Behaviourism is based upon observable behaviour, so it is easier to quantify and collect data and information when conducting research.

Disadvantages of Behaviourist Theory

• It ignores the mental processes that are involved in learning unlike the cognitive approach who views this processes as important.
• The use of animals in applying the laws of learning to humans has been criticized as humans are more complex than animals.
• The principle of operant and classical conditioning do not account for spontaneous behaviour in humans. 
• It rejects the possible role of biological factors in human behaviour, unlike the biological approach which considers nature an important factor. 
• Behaviourists view humans has passive learners, unlike humanistic psychologists who view humans as active agents able to control and determine their own development.
• All learning cannot be equated with external behaviour alone. It is also important to include the internal states of learning as well.
• The errors can promote the learning process. They do not always lead to the language habits.
• It is useful for the beginners not for the advanced learners.
• Learning depends on the correct responses which is not possible all the time.