accuturation

1. Acculturation by John Schumann Personal Notes
(3/9/23)
University Buddies
Keywords/Questions Notes
 Acculturation and
Language
Learning
 Dominance
 Acculturation involves social and psychological
factors that determine social contact and
proximity.
 Language is a subset of culture, and language
learning is a subset of culture learning.
 Language learning is possible only to the
degree that the learner acculturates.
 Adoption of the target language group's
lifestyle and values is not necessary for
language learning, but social and
psychological contact is necessary.
 Social Distance Variables:
 If the language learner (LL) group is not
dominant politically, economically, or socially,
then it will not acquire the target language (TL).
 The LL and target language group viewing
each other as socially equal results in more
social contact and a greater chance of the LL
group learning the TL.
 Both groups want the LL group to assimilate.
 Low enclosure: both groups expect to share
social facilities.
 The language learner group is small and not
very cohesive.
 If the LL group is big and cohesive, there will be
more intragroup interaction than intergroup
interaction.
o Congruence: If the LL group's culture is
congruent with that of the target

2. language group, the LL group is more
likely to learn the TL group's culture and
language.
o Both groups have positive attitudes
towards each other.
o Length of stay: The LL group sees itself
staying in the target language area for an
extended period.
o Integration strategy: Will they assimilate,
preserve, or adapt?
o Psychological Distance Variables:
o Language Shock: The feeling that when
one speaks a new language, they appear
comic.
o Culture Shock: Anxiety resulting from the
disorientation encountered upon entering
another culture.
 Motivation:
o Functional: Only to the point that
objectives are met.
o Internal: The person wants to learn the TL
on their own.
o External: The person needs to be
motivated by rewards/punishment.
o Integrative: So that they can live with the
target group.

3. o Ego boundaries: How willing are you to
become another person?
 Teaching Implications: To effectively teach a
second language, a teacher must consider the
social and psychological factors that affect
language learning. Teachers must create an
environment that encourages social contact
and proximity between the LL and target
language group. They must also be aware of
the psychological factors that can affect
language learning, such as motivation and ego
boundaries. Teachers must strive to create a
positive learning environment that promotes
cultural understanding and acceptance.
Summary
 The self-learning video discusses the concept of acculturation, which refers
to the social and psychological factors that determine social contact
resulting in social distance or proximity. Language learning is a subset of
culture learning, and a learner will learn the language only to the degree
that they acculturate. The adoption of the target language group's
lifestyle and values is not necessary for learning the language, but social
and psychological contact are necessary. The passage also discusses
various social distance and psychological distance variables that affect
language learning, such as dominance, assimilation, preservation,
adaptation, language shock, culture shock, motivation, and ego
boundaries. Finally, the passage raises the question of how these factors
will affect teaching.