psychologists like Skinner, Osgood, and Staats to explain first language
learning, but these explanations were rejected by adherents of generative
grammar and many others.
see also stimulus-response theory, cognitive psychologybehaviourist psychologyn
another term for behaviourism
behaviourist theoryn
another term for behaviourism
belief systemsn
in language teaching, ideas and theories that teachers and learners hold
about themselves, teaching, language, learning and their students.
see teacher belief systems, learner belief systems, learner beliefs
benchmarkn
a detailed description of a specific level of performance expected of a second
learner in a particular area at a certain proficiency level in the language. The
purpose of establishing the benchmark is to have a point of reference that
can be used to compare the learner’s performance at a later point in time.
Benchmarks are often defined by samples of L2 learner performance. For
example, in L2 writing assessment, a benchmark L2 learner’s paper is used
in representing exemplary performance on a specific level of a scoring
rubric.
see standards, standards movement
benefactive casen
(in case grammar) the noun or noun phrase that refers to the person or
animal who benefits, or is meant to benefit, from the action of the verb is in
the benefactive case. For example, in the sentences:
Joan baked a cake for Louise.
Joan baked Louise a cake.
Louise is in the benefactive case.
best practice n
a term used particularly in the UK and Australia to describe an example of
practice in a particular area that is regarded as exemplary and a standard
against which others may be compared. It suggests thoughtful, principled
behaviour informed by research or by a concern to maintain quality.
E.g. “best practice in teacher education programmes”, “Best practice in
on-arrival programmes for immigrants”.
behaviourist psychology