In a language classroom a teacher is asking students to interact in groups and then share their personal response to the poem with each other. This task promotes social interaction as advocated by _________

The correct option is Lev Vygotsky.

Explanation:

Lev Vygotsky was a seminal psychologist who developed the Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development. A central premise of Vygotsky's theory is that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the process of cognitive development and language acquisition.

According to Vygotsky:

1. Learning occurs first through social interaction with others (interpsychological) before being internalized within the individual (intrapsychological).

2. Collaborative activities, such as group interactions where students share personal responses, ideas, and interpretations, facilitate peer learning and social constructivism.

In contrast:

• Noam Chomsky proposed the concept of an innate Language Acquisition Device (LAD) and universal grammar (nativist approach).

• Jean Piaget emphasized individual cognitive development through stages and self-directed exploration of the environment rather than social scaffolding.

• B.F. Skinner advocated a behaviorist perspective, viewing language learning as a process of habit formation through stimulus, response, reinforcement, and repetition.

Therefore, group interaction and sharing personal responses directly align with the social interactionist principles advocated by Lev Vygotsky.