Young learners acquire language more easily than older learners due to brain plasticity and greater language exposure. Girls tend to perform better in grammar and spelling while boys learn more visually. Individual differences like aptitude, motivation, cognitive styles and personality can influence how successfully one acquires a second language. Learning strategies also impact language learning, with younger learners relying more on repetition and older learners on synthesis. Females tend to employ social/affective strategies more than males.

1. Differences in L2
learners
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
LISETH CHICA

2. AGE
YOUNG LEARNERS OLDER LEARNERS
The brain is like a sponge that absorbs
new information quickly and easily.
Brain maturation that reduce learning
capacity.
Like interaction with others; great amount
of language input.
Don't like interact and receives poor
language input.
Memory elasticity is phenomenal and
retains information.
Memory elasticity decreases and it is
difficult to retain information easy.
They can acquire native-like language. It is difficult that they can acquire native-
like language, they develop foreign accent.

3. SEX
BOYS GIRLS
They acquire language, trough its sensory
system.
Better in grammar and spelling.
They learn better the language by seeing
visual aids.
Their brains are more activity at the
moment they learn the language.
They learn better understanding and
figuring out compositional rules.
Remember easily difficult linguistic forms.
They automatize language skills and give
place to an effective language learning.
Girls are semantically and verbally more
competent.

4. APTITUDE
Being apt to learn a language consist on:
1. Phonemic coding ability: being capable to decode incoming speech sounds.
2. Inductive language learning ability: being capable to figure out how the rules
governing the language work.
3. Grammatical sensitivity: knowing the function of each linguistic element.
4. Associative memory capacity: to be able to memorize linguistic forms
accurately and to use them appropriately.

5. MOTIVATION
INTEGRATIVE MOTIVATION INSTRUMENTAL MOTIVATION
The learner acquires the second language
because he desires to fit in a society
where the L2 is spoken.
The learner acquires a second language
because he/she needs it to fulfil another
goal like having better job opportunities,
for graduating or for traveling.
It is emotional It is for practical uses
Impulse people to achieve some desired goal

6. COGNITIVE STYLES
Field independent: recognize objects no matter
the complexity of the background
Field-dependent: the field should be clear other
ways things are not perceived easily
Global: perceive things as whole. Particular: considers specific things for
information processing
holistic: looks for the general idea of something. Analytic: capable to analyze each detail within a
context.
Deductive: discovers the rules governing the L2
by themselves.
Inductive: analyze the rules governing the L2 to
learn it.
Focus on meaning: special attention is given on
learning the meaning of the L2.
Focus on form: a predisposition on learning
forms and features of the L2.

7. PERSONALITY
Personalities are important to provide better learning results
Anxious learners: have language learning issues causing by low self –confidence.
Extrovert: interact which is important for the
language learning.
Introvert: effective language
learners.
Shy: may not enjoy language learning. Adventuresome: may do better in
learning.
Inner-directed/other-directed and reflective/impulsive personalities are not really
factors that influence positively nor negatively the learning process of the
learner.
Imaginative, empathetic, self confident; get better in learning L2.

8. LEARNING STRATEGIES
METACOGNITIVE COGNITIVE SOCIAL/EFFECTIVE
Making a plan on what they
are going to do during the
lesson
Linguistic material to
facilitate learning as;
brainstorming, mind
mapping
Demand learner to the
interaction; to ask questions
so the teacher can gives
feedback
Factors that influence learning strategies
Age Young(repetition) adults(synthesis)
sex Females use social/affective strategies than man