🧠 UNIT 1 – First Language Development

 5 Theories of First Language Development 

Understanding how children acquire their first language is essential for educators and language professionals. Several theories have shaped our understanding of this process, each offering unique insights into how language emerges, develops, and is influenced by internal and external factors. 

1. Behaviorism – B.F. Skinner

• Language is learned through imitation, repetition, and reinforcement.
• Children repeat words they hear and are rewarded for correct usage.
• Emphasis on stimulus-response patterns.

🎥 Suggested video: https://youtu.be/VvOIbDI2fro?si=fgDXkTtG7nIaYhzH 

2. Innatism – Noam Chomsky

• Humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
• Language is an innate biological ability.
• Children generate novel sentences they’ve never heard before.

3. Cognitivism – Jean Piaget

• Sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years): Infants and toddlers learn about the world through their senses and motor skills. A key development in this stage is object permanence, the understanding that objects still exist even when they cannot be seen.
• Preoperational stage (2 to 7 years): Children begin to think symbolically and use words and images to represent objects and ideas. Thinking is often egocentric during this stage.
• Concrete operational stage (7 to 11 years): Children develop logical thinking about concrete events and understand concepts like conservation (e.g., that a tall glass of water holds the same amount as a short one). They begin to think more logically but still struggle with abstract concepts.
• Formal operational stage (12 years and up): Individuals can think about abstract and hypothetical concepts, reason deductively, and use scientific thinking. This is the final stage where they can think more abstractly and hypothetically. 

• 🧩 Activity idea: https://es.educaplay.com/recursos-educativos/26755584-piaget_s_cognitive_stages_match.html 

4. Interactionism – Bruner

• Language emerges from social interaction and scaffolding.
• Emphasizes the role of caregivers and routines (e.g., “peek-a-boo”).
• Language is co-constructed through dialogue. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX1Vrl7DYKucXpaSqdWwcwe9OAHdpJAWVfkB_96dHhf58jPw/viewform?usp=dialog

5. Constructivism – Lev Vygotsky

• Language is a tool for thought and social learning.
• The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) explains how children learn with guidance.
• Private speech helps children regulate behavior and internalize language

🎥 Suggested video: https://youtu.be/8I2hrSRbmHE?si=rDg1eYSV-eLGXJA0

UNIT 1.2 – Stages of First Language Acquisition

Language acquisition unfolds in stages, reflecting a child’s cognitive and communicative development. These stages are universal, though timing may vary. Understanding them helps educators recognize typical patterns and support learners effectively.

Key Stages of First Language Acquisition

1. Prelinguistic Stage

• Occurs during the first months of life.
• Includes crying, cooing, and babbling (e.g., “ba-ba,” “da-da”).
• Babbling becomes more complex and language-like over time.

🎧 Suggested resource: https://youtu.be/BMGmS71VWvA?si=LlDkCkrk6gbUX6ON

2. One-Word Stage (Holophrastic)

• Around 12 months.
• Children use single words to express complete ideas (e.g., “milk” = “I want milk”).

🎧 Suggested resource: https://youtu.be/nG6YXKH4hxI?si=oMcL4QWZgSiTbwbg

 3. Two-Word Stage

• Around 18–24 months.
• Combines two words to form basic sentences (e.g., “Mommy go,” “More juice”).

4. Telegraphic Stage

• Around 2–3 years.
• Uses short, grammatically simplified sentences (e.g., “I go park,” “Dog eat food”). 
• Begins to show understanding of word order and meaning.

🎧 Suggested resource: https://youtube.com/shorts/kTVD9VzhdJU?si=q_akn101XDRciflu 

5. Complex Structures

• From age 3 onward.
• Children begin using full sentences, questions, and grammatical markers.
• Errors like overgeneralization appear (e.g., “goed” instead of “went”).

💬 Time to reflection

Think about a child you know. Can you identify which stage they’re in? What language behaviors do they show?

Please comment below. 

UNIT 1.3 – The Role of the Environment

While biological and cognitive factors play a key role in language acquisition, the environment is equally essential. Children learn language through interaction with caregivers, exposure to cultural norms, and participation in daily routines. The richness and responsiveness of their environment can significantly influence the pace and quality of their language development.

🏡 Key Environmental Influences

1. Family and Caregivers

• Parents and caregivers provide the first linguistic input.
• Infant-directed speech (also called “motherese”) helps children focus on language patterns.
• Repetition, routines, and emotional bonding support vocabulary growth.

2. Cultural Context

• Language reflects cultural values, norms, and interaction styles.
• Some cultures emphasize storytelling, others prioritize direct instruction or communal dialogue.
• Children learn not just words, but how to use language socially.

3. Social Interaction

• Language develops through meaningful exchanges, not passive exposure.
• Turn-taking, gestures, and shared attention foster communication.
• Environments rich in conversation promote faster and deeper acquisition.