Analysis

   This analysis aims to analyze, compare, and contrast the classical theoretical perspectives of intelligence, learning, and motivation proposed by Chomsky, Bandura, Vygotsky, and the modern theories of Krashen and Gardner under the scope of second language acquisition (SLA).

Noam Chomsky

Introduction

Chomsky’s theory has influenced the theoretical perspective of the philosophers that will be analyzed for the Breadth component.  It will be shown that, for example, Chomsky influenced Bandura’s Social Learning theory, in the role that they both assign to language as a process acquired through interaction and the use of certain cognitive skills (Bandura, 1977). Similarly, Chomsky’s Universal Grammar (UG) is seen in Vygotsky’s theory of Constructivism, as the product of scaffolding, that is, building new information upon prior knowledge (Chomsky, 1955; Vygotsky, 1978). Krashen (1987) will show in his “Natural language acquisition approach” a rejection to formal methodologies for vocabulary-teaching that coincides with…