Transparency theory: a holistic, tacit-skill account of learning and language acquisition¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Transparency theory, articulated by Brown, Warner, and Williams (1985), is a view of learning and skill acquisition growing out of the psychological tradition emphasizing the functional and holistic aspects of human perception and action. It "emphasizes the tacit skill aspects of language acquisition and the functioning of language as a tool of social interaction" alongside traditional explicit instruction in grammar and vocabulary. Drawing on Gibson's ecological optics, Polanyi's account of tacit versus explicit and focal versus subsidiary knowledge, contemporary psychophysics, and second language acquisition research, it treats language as a skill best acquired as a tool in the service of some other purpose, with learners focusing through words as instruments of attention to their meaning. The authors propose it as a theoretical foundation for holistic, skill-based approaches to language acquisition and for interactive video design.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• An adequate psychology of learning requires understanding the nature of skills; the article argues the information processing approach precludes an adequate account of skills.

Constraints¶

• The authors state that much work remains to be done in the development of this approach to learning theory.

Target Learners¶

• second language learners

Target Learning Objectives¶

• second language acquisition
• meaningful language use as a social tool

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Sociocultural Theory

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Gale, Larrie E.; Brown, Bruce L. (1985). A Theory of Learning and Skill-Acquisition Applied to Interactive Video: Activities at the David O. McKay Institute, Brigham Young University. In Gillespie, Junetta B., Ed. Video and Second Language Learning. Urbana, Language Learning Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED278252