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Is behaviourism creeping back?

By Mohamad N. Keramati

University of Ershad Damavan University – Tehran 

Abstract

Recent models of language learning, like connectionism and competition models with reinforcement learning algorithms, inspired by one of the fundamental law of behaviourism – association between input and response – are now having their advocates. The question which strikes the mind is whether or not behaviourism is making a come back with the new models of language learning like connectionism. This study intends to find the answer to this question. The author first starts with the principles of behaviourism and reviews the strong impacts of behaviourism in education. Reviewing the principles of connectionism and competition model, the author argues that despite similarities between the new models and behaviourism, they are epistemologically different from behaviouristic view of language learning. It is further claimed that behaviourism, despite being discredited now, had never left the ground and their presence in the field has been very strong. (more…)

In the following video a Madrid teacher provides a basic orientation chat for new English teachers about how to go about organizing their thinking when they get into teaching English.