Acquisition versus Learning

acquisition

• unconscious process

• implicit learning

• effortless

• unaware of grammatical rules

• child controls the pace

• leads to adult-like mastery

language acquisition and learning are processes in different ways in the brain

learning

• intentional process

• explicit learning

• effortful

• direct instruction of language rules

• teacher controls the pace

• fossilization of errors common due to transfer

language acquisition and learning are processes in different ways in the brain

active filter

• affective factors affect second language acquisition process

  • motovation

  • self-confidence

  • anxiety

• acquires can have strong or weak filters

• affective filter can be a barrier to language acquisition when the filter prevents linguistic input from being processed and utilized

high filter

• experience stress

• anxiety lack of self-confidence

• may inhibit language acquisition success

low filter

• high motivation

• less anxiety

• willing to take risks

• take advantage of opportunities to use second language in natural contexts

stages of second language acquisition

1. silent/receptive

2. early production

3. speech emergence

4. intermediate fluency

5. advanced fluency/ continued language devlopment

silent period

• can last up to several months

• time spent learning vocabulary

• practicing pronunciation

• may engage in self-talk

• some researchers disagree that “silent” stage is needed to learn language

early production

• may last about 6 months

• understanding up to 1,000 words develops

• use of words and short phrases, through not all grammatically correct

speech emergence

• vocabulary up to 3,000 words

• learn to communicate by putting the words in short phrases, sentences and questions

• continue to see grammatical errors

• learners gain comprehension

• begin to read and write in second language

intermediate fluency

• lasts 1 years+

• have vocab of 6,000 + words

• acquire ability to communicate in writing and speech

• use more complex sentences

• learners begin actually thinking in their second language, which helps them gain more proficiency in speaking it

advacned fluency

• at least two years to reach this stage

• up to 10 years to achieve full mastery of the second language- all its complexities and nuances

• second language learners need ongoing opportunities to enage in discussions and express themselves in their new language in order to maintain fluency

language difference

• foreign accent

• code switching/mixing

• borrowing from L1

• unusual prosody

• higher scores on context-rich tasks than on single-word tasks

language disorder

• problems in both L1 and L2

• family concerns about communication

• history of devlopmental delays

• slower rate of L2 growth compared to other CLD students

• social problems after 1-2 years of L2 exposure

• higher scores on vocabulary tests than on reasoning tests