The document discusses John Schumann's acculturation theory of second language acquisition from 1978. The theory proposes that social and psychological factors influence how quickly learners acquire a new language. These factors include things like social dominance between cultures, language community size, attitudes between groups, and an individual's motivation and comfort with the new culture. While influential, the theory has also received some criticism for not clearly specifying how factors combine to predict outcomes and for not finding clear links between acculturation factors and proficiency in some studies. Supporters argue it provides insights into research and teaching approaches.

1. Acculturation
Theory
Arlene May T. Jordan
EDL 205

2. Meet the
Proponent
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3. John H. Schumann
• He is a Professor Emeritus of
Applied Linguistics and former
chair of the Department of
Applied Linguistics and TESL at
UCLA.
• His research includes language
acquisition, the neurobiology of
language, the neurobiology of
learning, and language evolution.
• He designed the Acculturation
Model in 1978
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4. Acculturation
Theory
• It is an exchange of
cultural features.
• It is sharing of the
differences in cultures.
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5. Some learners make rapid progress in second language
learning while others with the same initial ability and language
instruction make little progress in the same amount of time.
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6. Factors that
influence the
success:
6
 Psychological
Factors
 Social Factors

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Factors Affecting the Progress
of Learning Language

8. Social
Dominance
Enclosure Cohesive
-considers the
degree of equality
(subordination or
domination)
between the host
and guest cultures.
-degree of sharing
cultural construction
(school, church,
clubs,
facilities, trades,
profession, etc.)
-a strong intragroup
contact in the native
language
community with few
contacts outside the
community impacts
language learning.
-acquisition is
obtained through
assimilation,
preservation, and
adaptation.
Social Factors
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Integration
Pattern

9. Size Attitude Intended Length
of Residency
-size of the native
language
community may
impact L2 learning
-feelings of the
reference groups
toward each other
impact learning
-length of time a
learner plans to stay
in the country and
the permanency of
residency in the
country impact
motivation to learn a
new language.
-similarity and
harmony between
the cultures impact
second language
learning
Social Factors
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Cultural
Congruence

10. Psychological
Factors
-the extent to which the
learner feels disoriented
and uncomfortable with
extended residence in a
new culture
Language
Shock
-the degree and type
of desire experienced
by the learner to
acquire the language
-the ability of the learner
to accept a new identity
associated with the
belonging to a new
speech community
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-the degree to which
speaking the new
language makes the
learner feel foolish
or comical
Culture Shock
Motivation Ego
Permeability

11. Related Research:
Criticisms on Acculturation
Model
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Strengths of Acculturation
Model

12. Criticisms on
Acculturation Model
Kelley (1982) and Stauble (1981)
did not find any relationship between
acculturation and proficiency.
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Mondy(2007) argues that cultural
aspects are quite often, not so readily
identifiable, and that individuals may
succeed in SLA despite the social
conditions.

13. Criticisms on
Acculturation Model
Ellis(2008) perceived was that social
factors are assumed to have a direct
impact on SLA while they are more
likely to have an indirect one.
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According to Freeman & Long
(1991), Schumann did not specify the
combinations and levels of
social and psychological factors to
predict learner’s language outcome.

14. Strengths of Acculturation Model
Stern (1983) believes this model has given
a “better insight into language learning, designing
research studies, and diagnoses
individual patterns of language learning.”
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15. Strengths of Acculturation Model
Spolsky (1988) believes that successful language
teaching requires not only the ability to
impart grammatical knowledge but also sensitivity
to the social realities faced by
students.
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16. Thank you!!!
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