1. Summary
Language learning and acquisition are the main themes that have been studied for many
years. Freeman’s text explains various methods and the influence they have had in the
process of language acquisition. Chapter number one covers all the steps that children have
to go in order to acquire the language explaining that one way to acquire language is
through imitation and the attention that must be given to children in their language
development. “There is a strong parallel between children’s language development and the
stages of cognitive development identified by Piaget”1. Finally it leaves us as a conclusion
that humans have a special capacity for language.
Chapter two of language acquisition refers about the same stages that were discussed in the
first chapter, about the innate linguistic properties and the skills we have for acquiring the
language, also it refers to cognitive and language development; social interaction and the
nature that children have at the moment of learning a new language complementary.
Cook’s text refers about issues as learning a second language which is related with the
process of learning a first language. Going through the text it explains important factors
that we have to take into account as considering the exposure of the learner; in L1 it is
fairly constant than in L2 which it is more occasional.
Finally, Krashen explains the role of the first language in second language
acquisition.”First -language –influenced errors may only occur at certain stages in
development” 2 . It is focus on ESL students which tend to fall back to the first language. It
represents errors made by second language students.
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1
Brown (1955)
2
Krashen (1993, 1999)

2. Evaluation
Freeman’s point of view about language acquisition has a lot of sense, he refers to it as the
development of words that begins as a sound and ends with complex words and we can see
that it is true if we pay attention to children we can notice they want to express their
feelings and needs by “bubbing”. Taking this into consideration we can understand most of
the children’s behavior as well as the inconsistencies that exist between body and words.
language acquisition is a mental process that is influenced by the environment in which
people develops while interacting with others3. I totally agree with this point of view
because children learn language faster than any other thing, I really think that human beings
are unique and our developing of language is innate and also that children begin to learn the
language from the very beginning of their lives.
Cook’s point of view is in my opinion is similar to Freeman’s opinion both describes that
children creates their own set of language rule and it is not a question of repeating what
adults say. The author expresses that children’s language system is not a small part of the
adult system. However, children create their own set of language rules as they grow up.
On the other hand, Krasher’s point of view refers to what a mother tongue causes in
students learning a second language. It is a interesting point in my opinion because as a
student and future teacher we have to take into account not only the important aspects at the
moment of acquiring a new language (such as behaviorism, environment and brain
capacity) but also it is our fundamental task to master the different focuses that language
acquisition provides. All the texts contribute to me and make me think that learning a
language is a process that needs a solid base and also go step by step.
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3
“They learn how to use language appropriately in social settings. They develop the term of communicative
competence as the knowledge of what to say, to whom under what circumstances. Language always occurs in
a social context (…)” Hymes, 1970. “First language acquisition” chapter 1, p.8.