Cognitive code learning theory
Good teachers today, as in the past, follow the cognitive code theory to the extent that they present a linguistic item or category through tasks and activities which will lead to habit formation, which will in turn lead to fluency and accu¬racy in pronunciation, morphology, and syntax. By loosening direct control and encouraging the use of spontaneously emitted utterances from the repertoire of linguistic items they have stored in their memories, students have always been led by good teachers to in-class communication which duplicates communication in the real world. The difference today is that a larger percentage of teachers and texts focus on communication as the major objective of language teaching.
The basic principles of this method:
1. Language is rule-governed cognitive behavior, not habit formation, thus language learning is viewed as rule acquisition not habit forma¬tion.
2. Instruction is often individualized; learners are responsible for their own learning.
3. Grammar must be taught but it can be taught deductively (rules first, practice later) and or inductively (rules can be stated after practice).