INTELLIGENCE

AND SECOND
LANGUAGE
LEARNING

WHAT

IS

INTELLIGENCE?

TRADITIONAL DEFINITION
INTELLIGENCE IS DEFINED AND MEASURED IN TERMS OF LINGUISTIC AND
LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES.
This traditional definition of intelligence are culture-bound and excluded a great number of
the humans beings abilities

ALFRED BINET
The notion of IQ (Intelligence Quotient), which was
introduced by Binet, is based on tests of the domains of
Linguistic and Mathematical abilities.

HOWARD GARDNER
Gardner described five more types of knowing , that
in his view, provide a much more comprehensive
picture of intelligence.
1)Linguistic
2)Logical-

Mathematical abilities
3)Spatial intelligence
4)Musical Intelligence
5)Bodily- Kinesthetic intelligence
6)Interpersonal Intelligence
7)Intrapersonal Intelligence

ROBERT STENBERG
In his thriarchic view of intelligence he states three types of smartness

Componential ability for analytical thinking

Abstract thinking & logical reasoning

Verbal & mathematical skills
analyzing, evaluating, criticizing, reasoning, and judging

Experiential ability to engage in creative thinking

Divergent thinking (generating new ideas)
Ability to deal with novel situations
Discovering, inventing, dealing with novelty, and creating

Contextual ability (Street smartness)

Ability to apply knowledge to the real world
Ability to shape ones environment, choose an environment
Implying, implementing, and using

INTELLIGENCE SECOND LANGUAGE

LEARNING?
In its traditional definition, intelligence may
have little to do with ones success as a
second language learner .
Gardner attaches important attributes to the
notion of intelligence, attributes that could
be crucial to second language.
Stenbergs triarchic theory improve our
understanding of the relationship of
intelligence to second language learning.

OLLER
He suggested that intelligence may
after all be language based. His
hypothesis for second language are
interesting.
He said that both, first and second
language, must be closely tied to
meaning in its deepest sense. Effective
second language learning is linked
with meaningful experiences (Ausubels
theory). The strenght of that link may
indeed be a factor of intelligence.

FINALLY.
We have much to gain from understanding of learning
principles and of the various ways of viewing human
intelligence.
Applied to second language learning , it suggestes that it
is important to teach taking into account students
intelligence, because students learn in different ways.
There is no consistent combination of theories that
works for every context of second language learning.
Each teacher has to adopt a intuitive process of
discerning and understanding of the appropiateness and
strenghts and weaknesses of each theory learning.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!