scholarly journals Second Language Acquisition in the Target Language Environment based on the Theory of Affordances

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Zeng ◽  
Tongtao Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Environment

scholarly journals THE ACCULTURATION MODEL OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: INSPECTING WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Zaker
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Linguistic Competence ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Affecting Factor ◽  
Different Types ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Language Environment

Previous research has highlighted the significant impact of culture on learning a second language (L2). Accordingly, culture is now believed to be a major learning-affecting factor which, along with linguistic competence, facilitates the process of L2 learning. Some have proposed that being surrounded in the L2 environment gives one a better chance of learning an L2. Based on this premise, Schumann in 1978 proposed the acculturation/pidginization model as an environmental-oriented model that emphasizes identification with a community as the primary requirement of second language acquisition. This study attempts to take a closer look at different aspects of this theory. The taxonomy of factors which control social distance is presented along with the different types of acculturation and the stages/steps of acculturation in an L2 environment. The article concludes with a discussion on the advantages and shortcomings of the model.Keywords: acculturation, culture, pidginization, target language environment

World Englishes, Second Language Acquisition, and Language Contact

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajend Mesthrie
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Contact ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
Second Languages

Although areas of potential overlap between the fields of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and World Englishes (WE) may seem obvious, they developed historically in isolation from each other. SLA had a psycholinguistic emphasis, studying the ways in which individuals progressed towards acquisition of a target language. WE studies initially developed a sociolinguistic focus, describing varieties that arose as second languages in former British colonies. This chapter explores the way in which each field could benefit from the other. The SLA emphasis on routes of development, overgeneralization, universals of SLA, and transfer in the interlanguage has relevance to characterizing sub-varieties of WEs. Conversely, the socio-political dimension of early WE studies and the notion of macro- or group acquisition fills a gap in SLA studies which sometimes failed to acknowledge that the goal of second language learners was to become bilingual in ways that were socially meaningful within their societies.

Impact of an interaction-oriented Japanese course on learners

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 123-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoko Ogawa
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Japanese People ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Active Interaction

Abstract Neustupny (1988, 1991) recommended an interactive competence approach for second language acquisition that places a greater emphasis on learners’ active interaction with native speakers in real communicative situations. In order to have the opportunity to interact with native speakers in the target language, a conscious effort by the learners as well as support from the teachers and the community is essential. The third-year Japanese course at Monash University was designed to encourage and support learners to establish and maintain relationships with Japanese people as well as to utilise various other resources of the target language and culture. This paper examines the impact of this interaction-oriented course on learners in their establishment and maintenance of relationships with Japanese people, and cultural and social understanding. It is based on data collected during 1996 and 1997.

Pre-Basic Varieties

1996 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 135-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Perdue
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Useful Knowledge ◽  
Single Level ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
European Science ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Level Analysis

Three of the traditional questions in (second) language acquisition research are: 1. What is acquired, in what order? 2. How is it acquired? 3. Why is it acquired? In this paper, I concentrate on (1) and (3), proposing a description of various learners' paths towards various L2s, and examining different factors which may explain the course of acquisition. The learners were, for the most part, recorded during the European Science Foundation's study of the spontaneous (untutored) acquisition of Dutch, French, English and German (Perdue 1993); other comparable studies will also be discussed. The emphasis is placed on the beginning stages of acquisition in an attempt to demonstrate that these stages are crucial for an understanding of the whole process. It will be argued (a) that there are stages (grammars) through which all learners pass, (b) that these stages can be characterised explicitly, but (c) the description of these stages, and of the transition between them, is not reducible to a single-level analysis, and (d) distance between (source and target) language pairs partially determines the amount of useful knowledge available to the absolute beginner.

scholarly journals A Literature-Based Approach on Age Factors in Second Language Acquisition: Children, Adolescents, and Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Burhan Ozfidan ◽  
Lynn M. Burlbaw
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Instructional Methods ◽  
Age Factors ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Older Learners ◽  
Age Factor ◽  
Adolescents And Adults

Age is an essential factor in Second Language Acquisition (SLA), impacting the success of students and instructional methods. The purpose of this study is to examine the age factor in SLA by examining three age categories – children, adolescents and adults. In doing so, the study considers the Critical Period Hypothesis as a base of linguistic research in the area of age factor. The study disapproves the assertion of the hypothesis that all prepubescent learners are able to acquire native-like proficiency in target language pronunciation. The study analyzes common SLA beliefs, including: 1) younger learners are more successful than older learners, 2) the language learning processes of younger learners are less stressful and require less of an effort, and 3) young learners are more skillful in language learning. Adolescents and adults are considered as older learners in terms of cognitive maturity. The results of the study indicated that children learn a language easier than adolescents and adults, particularly with respect to pronunciation and morpho syntax. Adolescents are good at syntax and listening sills, while the best results for adults are for reading and writing activities. Thus, the types of brain organization at learners of different developmental stages lead to the need for a diversity of instructional methods for children, adolescents and adults.

scholarly journals 'You wouldn't pass the salt' – from accusation to request or the impact of learning context and learner identity on the acquisition of situational variation in highly advanced learners of English

2010 ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Devlin
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Learner Identity ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
The Impact

The field of second language acquisition is a fascinating and global topic. Many of us have spent long hours poring over textbooks, memorising vocabulary and perfecting our grammar only to find that when we arrive in the country no-one understands us or our use of language unexpectedly gives rise to hilarity or even causes offense. We've been told, 'Don't worry. Spend a few weeks in the country and you'll soon soak up the language'. Again, this is not always the case. While many learners return from their time abroad showing and feeling huge improvements, there are others who seem not to have benefited from the experience. In fact, it is well known that people can live in another language environment for years and never 'pick up' the language. So, if learning doesn't necessarily help and spending time in the country doesn't always produce the desired results, then what are the ...

scholarly journals The Case Against the Case Against Holding English Classes in English

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Rintaro Sato
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Education ◽  
Target Language ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
English Classes

15In senior high school, teachers are now officially supposed to conduct their English lessons mainly in English to develop students’ communication abilities (MEXT, 2011). However, some researchers in English education have raised the case against this “English lessons in English” principle, asserting that conducting English lessons in the target language of English is not only ineffective, but harmful. This paper aims to refute critics of MEXT’s guideline for conducting classes primarily in English by considering studies in second language acquisition (SLA), theories for English learners’ motivation in the Japanese context, and offering an alternative for judicious use of the L1, Japanese. 現在、高校での英語の授業は主に英語で行うことになっている。しかしながらこの「英語での授業」には一部の英語教育研究者から, 効果が無いばかりか害があるとの強烈な反対意見もある。本稿では、この「英語での授業への反対意見」を第２言語習得理論や日本人学習者の英語を話そうとする意欲、有効な日本語の活用などの観点から反論する。

scholarly journals Cognitive Theory of Markedness and Native Language Transfer

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Liang Deng
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Transfer ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge

<p>In the process of second language acquisition (SLA), such phenomena as some linguistic knowledge in the target language is much easier to acquire than others in SLA and some linguistic knowledge in native language is apt to be transferred are prevailing. To account for these phenomena, markedness theory is introduced and attempts to provide a plausible explanation. In particular, cognitive theory of markedness, or rather, prototypicality has proven to be effective and powerful in predicting the transferability of native language. This paper tries to offer a brief introduction of markedness theory and its recent development, prototypicality and conduct a review on related achievements gained in the studies of native language transfer in SLA. At the same time, shortcomings of current researches as well as prospect of future researches in this field will be pointed out.</p>

Comprehensible Input and Second Language Acquisition

1994 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester Loschky
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Comprehensible Input ◽  
Negotiated Interaction ◽  
Input Hypothesis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Vocabulary Recognition

This study attempts to test aspects of the input hypothesis (Krashen, 1980, 1983, 1985) and Long's modification of it (Long, 1980, 1983a, 1985). Specifically, it experimentally tests the hypothesis that both input and interactional modifications facilitate second language acquisition, using Japanese as the target language. Three experimental groups were differentiated in terms of input and interaction conditions: (1) unmodified input with no interaction, (2) premodified input with no interaction, and (3) unmodified input with the chance for negotiated interaction. The groups were compared in terms of (a) their degree of comprehension of the input and (b) their subsequent retention of vocabulary items and acquisition of two Japanese locative structures. The results indicated that moment-to-moment comprehension was highest for the negotiated interaction group, whereas there was no significant difference between the two noninteraction groups. Furthermore, there was no correlation found between differences in moment-to-moment comprehension and gains in vocabulary recognition and acquisition of structures, though significant gains on both measures were found for all three groups. Discussion of these findings centers on the relationship between comprehension and acquisition.

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