This document discusses language acquisition and its importance in education. It defines language acquisition as the process of learning one's native language and additional languages. Language is important for communication, mental development, cultural understanding, and career opportunities. In 21st century education, students use language to learn about other cultures, understand media influences, and communicate cross-culturally using technology. Podcasts and recording newscasts are examples of technology applications that help students practice language skills. Previous approaches relied more on rote learning while modern approaches use engaging technology to create less anxiety and more relevant learning.

1. LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Abigail Holleron
Samantha Smith
Kristin Hayes

2. DEFINITION
Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to
perceive and comprehend language, as well as to produce and use words and
sentences to communicate
First-language acquisition studies infants' achievement of their native language.
Second-language acquisition deals with the achievement (in children and adults) of
additional languages.

3. IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE
 Language is how we communicate and connect with other people
 It enriches and enhances mental development
 It strengthens the understanding of one’s own language and culture
when they compare their language to another culture’s language
 It helps students understand another country’s culture, traditions, and
history
 Language learning can be executed through stories, speech, and
technology
 Language will advance leadership skills and expand career
opportunities by making one more versatile

4. HOW LANGUAGE APPLIES TO 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION
Students use language to learn and communicate with cultures and share their own
culture
Students understand how media influence language and culture
Students use appropriate technologies when interpreting, interacting, and producing
language
Students understand diverse cultural perspectives and use appropriate skills to
communicate in diverse cultures

5. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION
Podcasts…
 Help students work on pronunciation and
fluency skills
 Can be both scripted or improvised
 Can be used as a form of evaluation as
students demonstrate what they have learned
 Provide students with feedback that can be
listened to over and over Two popular podcast programs:
Audacity and iTunes.

6. EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION
You are a member of a German news
reporting agency! You will first be assigned
a holiday that citizens of Germany
celebrate to complete research on in
groups. This will not be a holiday
celebrated in the United States. Next, you
will organize a short newscast in German
where each person will report on a
different aspect of the holiday. The final
step is to record your newscast on Audacity
and upload it to the class blog. Viel Glück!

7. ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
Previous approach to Language
Acquisition
Minimal uses of technology causes:
 More opportunities for rote learning
which creates passive learners
 Meaningful connections to less likely to
be made
 Outdated learning materials
21st Century Education approach to
Language Acquisition
Utilization of technology causes:
 Positive learning attitudes
 Less anxiety that comes from learning
a new language (i.e. message boards)
 Learning materials to be used that are
constantly being updated and
consequently more relevant to learners

8. WORKS CITED
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition
 http://www.academia.edu/243362/Global_Trends_in_Language_Learning_in_the_21st_Century
 http://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/21stCenturySkillsMap/p21_worldlanguagesmap.pdf