Open Access Peer-reviewed

Complex System Theory and College English Teaching Developments

Liang Aimin1,, Cong Rizen2

1School of Foreign Languages, University of Jinan, Jinan City, China

2Room 704, No. 8 Building, No. 155-2, Yingxuongshan Road, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(10), 925-931. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-10-12
Published online: August 25, 2017

Abstract

Complex systems are composed of elements or agents that are of many different types and that interact in different ways. Complex System Theory, originating in the fields of physics and mathematics, and also popularly known as Chaos Theory or Dynamic System Theory, attempts to describe the interactions of different elements and agents with the features of heterogeneity, dynamics, openness, adaptation, non-linearity, and sensitive dependence on initial conditions etc and supplies new perspectives to the researches of Applied Linguistics. This article tries to reveal the prospect of the application of Complex System Theory in College English Teaching of China with the purpose to explore effective approaches to its developments of the following elements: such as, needs analysis, teaching objectives, teaching materials, testing, teaching models and evaluations.

Keywords:

complex system theory, college English, teaching developments
[1]  Bachman, L. F, Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1990, 279.
 
[2]  Brown, J. D, The Elements of Language Curriculum: A Systematic Approach to Program Development, Heinle and Heinle, Boston, 1995, 29-35.
 
[3]  Brown, D. H, Teaching by Principle: A Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Beijing, 2001, 73.
 
[4]  DeBot, K. “Introduction: Second language development as a dynamic process,” The Modern Language Journal, Volume 92, 166-178, 2008.View Article
 
[5]  De Bot, K., W. Lowie & M. Verspoor, Second Language Acquisition: An Advanced Resource Book, Routledge, London, 2005, 3-27.
 
[6]  De Bot, K.,W. Lowie & M. Verspoor, “Dynamic Systems Theory approach to second language acquisition,” Bilingualism, Volume 10 (1). 7-21. 2007.View Article
 
[7]  Education Department of China, College English Curriculum Requirements (for Formal Implementation), Shanghai Foreign Languages Education Press. Shanghai, 2007, 22-257.
 
[8]  Larsen-Freeman,D, “Chaos/Complexity science and second language acquisition,” Applied Linguistics, Volume 18. 141-165. 1997.View Article
 
[9]  Larsen-Freeman, D, “Language acquisition and language use from a chaos/complexity theory perspective,” In C. Kramsch (ed.). Language Acquisition and Language Socialization, Continuum, London, 2002, 33-46.
 
[10]  Larsen-Freeman, D, “The emergence of complexity, fluency, and accuracy in the oral and written production of five Chinese learners of English,” Applied Linguistics, Volume 27. 590-619. 2006.View Article
 
[11]  Larsen-Freeman, D, “On the complementarity of Chaos/Complexity Theory and Dynamic Systems Theory in understanding the second language acquisition process,” Bilingualism, Volume 10. 35-37. 2007.View Article
 
[12]  Larsen-Freeman, D.&L. Cameron, Complex Systems and Applied Linguistics, Oxford University Press, Oxford ,2008, 25-98.
 
[13]  Larsen-Freeman, D, “Adjusting expectations: The study of complexity, accuracy, and fluency in second language acquisition,” Applied Linguistics, Volume 30. 579-589. 2009.View Article
 
[14]  Larsen-Freeman, D&L. Cameron, “Research methodology on language development from a Complex Systems perspective,” The Modern Language Journal, Volume 92. 200-213. 2008.View Article
 
[15]  Meara, P, “Towards a new approach to modeling vocabulary acquisition,” In N. Schmitt and M. McCarthy (eds.). Vocabulary: Description, Acquisition and Pedagogy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridege, 1997.115. PubMed
 
[16]  Van Geert, P. “Dynamic Systems approaches and modeling of developmental processes,” In J. Valsiner & J. Conlolly (eds.). Handbook of Developmental Psychology, Sage London, 2003, 640-672.
 
[17]  Van Geert,P. “The dynamic systems approach in the study of L1 and L2 acquisition: An introduction,” The Modern Language Journal, Volume 92.179-199.2008.
 
[18]  Vygotsky, L. Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1978, 56-58.