International Journal of Learning & Development ISSN 2164-4063 2013, Vol. 3, No. 3 www.macrothink.org/ijld 148 Chomsky’s Language Development Theories: Rescuing Parents out of Dilemma Huachuan Wen Dept. of Professional Studies in Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Apt. 59, Regency Square, Indiana, PA, United States Tel: 1-724-357-2400 E-mail: w.huachuan@iup.edu Accepted: May 23, 2013 Published: June 27, 2013 Doi:10.5296/ijld.v3i3.3922 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijld.v3i3.3922 Abstract Being a language teacher to foreign language learners in China for 11 years, the author has developed thorough understanding of many language learning and teaching issues in China. Casting deep insights into the fundamental language learning theories developed by Chomsky, the author provides suggestions to parents, not only in China, but parents of diverse language and culture backgrounds, about how to handle children’s language development issues based on the inspirations from these theories. Keywords: Language acquisition; Language development; Foreign language learning and teaching; Bilingual children 1. Introduction Being a miscellaneous scholar, Noam Chomsky is predominantly known by people for his linguistic theories and the views of children’s language development. Chomsky’s linguistic theory has changed the traditional way of studying language and he is generally considered the founder of modern linguistics. Although Chomsky’s linguistic theories have never been free of controversies, they are still considered useful by many linguists (Crain, 2010). Many people used to believe what behaviorism and empiricism say about language acquisition. Chomsky fiercely challenged such beliefs by developing his belief of language being innate to humans. His theoretical contributions also cleared the mists before foreign and second language learners and teachers on their way to speed up language learning. Actually, Chomsky has identified many facts that have been neglected by numerous linguists and psychologists. In this paper, the author identifies several problems in children’s language acquision and foreign language teaching in China. With the application of Chomsky’s theories of language development, the misunderstanding will be straightened and feasible solutions will be provided to solve the problems. Hopefully, this paper will provide newer insights into some of Chomsky’s language theories and help to solve some actual problems in children’s language acquisition and language development. 2. Kindergarten Children: Pushed Too Hard to Acquire Languages Much progress has been in language teaching and research in recent years in China but there still exist problems of various kinds that affect or even hinder young children’s language acquisition. Most Chinese parents wish their children become dragons and phoenixes (outstanding and successful) when they grow up. Some of them try to realize such goals by