The cognitive approach as a challenge in foreign language teaching

• Main Author: Miroslava Tsvetkova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen 2016-11-01
• Series: Studies in Linguistics, Culture, and FLT
• Subjects: language acquisition; flt; cognitive approach; taxonomy of constructions
• Online Access: http://silc.shu.bg/images/issues/2016/SILC_2016_1_125-135_11_EN.pdf

The cognitive approach in foreign language teaching attracts young learners’ attention to the topic, enhances and facilitates the comprehension of grammar and language, increases students’ motivation, as well as helps students to memorize new vocabulary and structures. The aim of the article is to persuade teachers that the cognitive approach applied in the lesson provokes a change in the dynamics of the language classroom and serves as a motivational tool for students. An author’s cognitive model is an example for the easy comprehension and production of the difficult English present progressive construction by Bulgarian young learners. The model is discussed within the generativist framework and the usage-based theories as the pre-linguistic conditions take an important part in it. The taxonomy of constructions, which is also part of the model, focuses on the relationship between the English present progressive construction and the constructions preceding it.