Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 1: How children think and learn, and how they learn languages .....................9
1.1 How children think and learn...............................................................................9
1.1.1 Behaviouristic learning theory....................................................................10
1.1.2 The theory of Piaget....................................................................................12
1.1.3 The theories of Vygotsky and Bruner.........................................................14
1.2 How children learn languages............................................................................17
1.2.1 Behaviourist Theories .................................................................................17
1.2.2 Nativist theories ..........................................................................................21
1.2.3 Interactionist theories..................................................................................30
Chapter 2: The methodology of the research ...............................................................33
2.1 Time and area of the research ............................................................................33
2.2 Methods for collecting evidence ........................................................................33
2.2.1 The Questionnaire .......................................................................................34
2.2.2 Collection of documents .............................................................................35
2.2.3 Classroom observations ..............................................................................36
2.2.4 Interviews....................................................................................................36
2.3 Methods of analyzing evidence .........................................................................37
2.3.1 Analysis of quantitative data.......................................................................37
2.3.2 Analysis of qualitative data.........................................................................39
2.4 Limitations to the study .....................................................................................39
2.5 Ethical issues considered ...................................................................................40
Chapter 3. Research findings and discussion...............................................................42
3.1 Presentation and interpretation of results...........................................................42
3.1.1 Findings arising from the questionnaire .....................................................42
3.1.2 Findings arising from an examination of the supplementary material .......68
3.1.3 Findings arising from the classroom observations......................................69
3.1.4. Findings arising from the interviews .........................................................71
3.2 Summarising remarks and suggestions for the professional development of
teachers ....................................................................................................................73
3.2.1 Providing answers to the research questions ..............................................73
3.2.2 Suggestions for an effective in-service training programme ......................74
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................78
References....................................................................................................................79
APPENDICES .............................................................................................................91
Appendix I ...................................................................................................................91
Appendix II .................................................Σφάλμα! Δεν έχει οριστεί σελιδοδείκτης.
Appendix III.................................................................................................................99
Appendix IV...............................................................................................................100
Appendix V................................................................................................................122
Appendix VI...............................................................................................................125
Appendix VIIa ...............................................................