Learning is the process of acquiring new skills or knowledge and enhancing existing abilities. Through learning, individuals experience changes in their knowledge and behavior. The rate at which people acquire skills varies, meaning everyone learns at different speeds. Several factors influence a person's learning experience, including the environment, the learner's ability and motivation, and the teacher's effectiveness and methods of imparting knowledge.
Here are some definitions of learning from various educationists:
Richard E. Mayer: “Learning is the relatively permanent change in a person’s knowledge or behavior due to experience.”
According to this definition, we focus on three key aspects:
Susan Ambrose: “Learning is a process that leads to change, which occurs as a result of experience and increases the potential for improved performance and future learning.”
From this, we can conclude that learning is a process of gaining knowledge and expertise.
There are three types of learning:
This type of learning involves motor activities that we perform in daily life, such as walking, running, driving, and climbing. These activities require muscular coordination.
Verbal learning involves the use of language and communication methods such as signs, pictures, symbols, words, and sounds. These tools facilitate various verbal activities.
Conceptual learning requires higher-order mental processes like thinking, reasoning, and intelligence. Through these processes, a child learns different concepts.
Certain factors affect the learning of individuals. These factors can be categorized as follows:
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) was enacted by the Parliament of India on 4th August 2009. It describes the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 years in India. The RTE Act is the first legislation in the world that places the responsibility of ensuring enrolment, attendance, and completion of elementary education on the government.
The RTE Act stipulates that no child admitted to a school shall be held back in any class or expelled until the completion of elementary education. It also prohibits physical punishment or mental harassment of children, advocating for a child-friendly learning environment.
When language is learnt naturally without systematic practice, it is called acquisition. The terms 'learning' and 'acquisition' are complementary. Learners acquire a language when it is used in their natural environment.
BF Skinner proposed the theory of learning known as operant conditioning, which is based on habit formation. According to Skinner, humans and other creatures respond due to reinforcement. He believed that classical conditioning was too simplistic to explain complex human behavior fully.
Skinner emphasized understanding behavior by examining the causes of actions and their consequences. Operant conditioning focuses on intentional actions (operants) that affect the environment. Skinner aimed to identify processes that made certain operant behaviors more or less likely to occur.
Effective communication between people who know and respect each other is crucial for a child's language development. Language allows children to understand their surroundings, express feelings, and communicate with others. When children can express new ideas and complex matters, their self-esteem is boosted. Difficulty in verbalizing feelings can lead to frustration and reduced self-esteem.
The desire to communicate begins at birth. Babies quickly learn to get their needs met through crying, cooing, and making eye contact with their immediate family. A child's overall development and mental health are greatly influenced by their ability to communicate in various ways.
The early years of childhood are preparation time for language learning. Language development starts with oral expressions as children learn to use words, sentences, and then complex structures.
As children grow, their vocabulary expands significantly. Typically, children understand or recognize more words than they can speak, especially in the early years.
Age | Vocabulary |
---|---|
Birth to 8 months | 0 words |
9 months to 1.5 years | 3 to 12 words |
Up to 2 years | 272 words |
Up to 2.5 years | 450 words |
Up to 3 years | 1000 words |
Up to 3.5 years | 1250 words |
Up to 4 years | 1600 words |
Up to 5 years | 2100 words |
Up to 11 years | 50,000 words |
Up to 14 years | 80,000 words |
16 years and beyond | More than 100,000 words |
As children reach school age and enter kindergarten, they typically have a vocabulary of around 2000 words. Talking and reading are excellent sources for vocabulary development. Here are some strategies to encourage vocabulary growth:
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1. What are the factors related to the learner in language acquisition and learning? |
2. How can teachers encourage language development in children according to the article? |
3. What are the different types of learning mentioned in the article? |
4. How does BF Skinner's concept of learning relate to language acquisition? |
5. What is the initial stage of language development according to the article? |
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