Automatization in Second Language Learning

Automatization in Second Language Learning

  The concept of automatization which was first introduced in cognitive psychology is thought to be applied to the field of second language acquisition. This perspective sees the acquisition of second language as the acquisition of a complex skill. In this paper, two main approaches on automatization are introduced: rule-based and instanced-based and studies in second language acquisition which address both the rule-based and instance-based approaches are presented. And, finally, implications on how to teach second language in order to promote the automaticity are discussed. It is emphasized that in designing teaching materials for enhancing automaticity the most crucial feature is the "repetition" of the practice and the idea of automaticity should be incorporated into the second language teaching curricula.