Principles of Automaticity and Meaningful Learning and other related concepts

Reflection #2:

It is so refreshing to be able to read once again articles on topics like these. Basically, the principles are not new. In fact, these have been discussed and studied through all these years by psychologists, theorists and scholars on language learning and teaching. And what’s good with this is that even if there are so many principles presented by different theorist, they do not quite clash with each other rather they complement from one principle to another. I have heard of these theories way back my college years and have been thoroughly discussed by our language professors may it be in strategies of teaching or in psychology of teaching. As education students, we were exposed to these different theories. It is just that no matter how very common and maybe over studied these principles are, these are also forgotten, if not disregarded most of the times by educators hence, the cause of failure in handling language classes. And I am glad to have relearned these things that are why I said it is so refreshing.

Honestly, I go for the cognitive principles specifically the principles of Automaticity and meaningful learning among all others. I find these more realistic and applicable. In my teaching experience I have always believed on the innate knowledge of students and their capability to learn the natural way because accordingly there is already that lexicon in every man’s system. Language is learned automatically without going through a certain process and procedure. It means that it is built on and never has it required much effort. This is quite true for first langauge learners. But even with the second language learners, learning is automatic; it is as if they already know this information without going through the detail of learning it. It means that there is no such pattern like this is what is supposed to be learned first and this is what are not supposed to be learned. In this principle, automatic learning is learning all at once without much effort.

I believe there is nothing wrong with this principle as this actually addresses the natural way of a child to learn. However, that Automaticity alone defeats the purpose of acquiring proficient learning because for that previous knowledge to be worthwhile, it has to have meaning. In other words, language learning should be meaningful. And this is quite true. It suggests that as a child learns a language, the best, easiest and most meaningful way is associative. This means that each detail of information is associated to sound, symbols, and experience and the likes to make it more meaningful and therefore, there is retention to learning as opposed to rote learning which is learning information in isolated bits that are not connected with one’s existing cognitive structure.

Aside from the two principles I specifically mentioned, all the rest of the principles are contributory to one’s learning. They actually enhance language learning of individual in varied ways. These may be varied and are presented in different principles, views and angles but as I personally see it and as based from my personal experience in language learning and even in my experience as a teacher myself, all these principles have effect on language learning. The impact may differ but in whatever way, they surely contribute to one’s learning.

Man has these different aspects namely cognitive, affective and linguistic, each aspect needs to be tapped and addressed accordingly. In cognitive concept of language learning, motivation is even important as well as the concept of one’s anticipation of reward in learning and so with intrinsic motivation and the important role of strategies and Instructional Materials. Other principles which fall under affective such as language ego, self-confidence, risk – taking and language – culture connection are factual concepts we cannot do away in language learning because it always follows that every time we learn a language, we attribute it to culture thus we cannot just dislodge the notion of language-culture connection. They always go together.

Moreover, the linguistic concept, as I have understood, also speaks about Noam Chomsky’s Nativist theory of Language Acquisition. Everything, as I have mentioned in my previous earlier, works together as an important entity in an individual’s language learning.

Lastly, let me wind up this reflection with my own notion on language learning based from the theories I have read. I strongly believe that no isolated principle or theory will ever work best in isolation as far as language learning is concerned. They definitely work hand in hand and are quite true in language acquisition. All have important contribution in language learning. But it is not necessary that all individuals have gone through or would go through the same pattern in language learning.