Skill-based theories of second-language acquisition are
theories
A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research. Theories may be ...
of
second-language acquisition
Second-language acquisition (SLA), sometimes called second-language learning — otherwise referred to as L2 (language 2) acquisition, is the process by which people learn a second language. Second-language acquisition is also the scientific dis ...
based on models of
skill acquisition in
cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes such as attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and reasoning.
Cognitive psychology originated in the 1960s in a break from behaviorism, which ...
. These theories conceive of second-language acquisition as being learned in the same way as any other skill, such as learning to drive a car or play the piano. That is, they see
practice
Practice or practise may refer to:
Education and learning
* Practice (learning method), a method of learning by repetition
* Phantom practice, phenomenon in which a person's abilities continue to improve, even without practicing
* Practice-based ...
as the key ingredient of language acquisition. The most well-known of these theories is based on
John Anderson John Anderson may refer to:
Business
*John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland
* John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...
's
adaptive control of thought model.
[, "Skill/s".]
Adaptive control of thought
The adaptive control of thought model assumes a distinction between
declarative knowledge, knowledge that is conscious and consists of facts,
[, "Declarative knowledge".] and
procedural knowledge
Procedural knowledge (also known as knowing-how, and sometimes referred to as practical knowledge, imperative knowledge, or performative knowledge) is the knowledge exercised in the performance of some task. Unlike descriptive knowledge (also kno ...
, knowledge of how an activity is done.
[, "Procedural knowledge".][, "Adaptive control of thought".] In this model, skill acquisition is seen as a progression from declarative to procedural knowledge.
Adaptive control of thought is a general model of cognition, and second-language acquisition is just one application of a wide area of research in cognitive psychology.
[, "Adaptive Control of Thought model".] Second-language acquisition is seen as a progression through three stages, declarative, procedural, and autonomous.
Notes
References
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{{SLA topics
Second-language acquisition
acquisition-stub