Why are some learners more successful than others?

1. WHY ARE SOME LEARNERS
MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN
OTHERS?
BY LISETH CHICA

2. Social Context
It has an impact in L2 succeed:
 When people perceive that have much in common with other people who speak L2, they can interact
and learn a new language(identity).
 Members from communities that share language use and varieties (speech community).
 The level high or low in the L1 or L2 in order to interact with society (status).
 The opportunity that give Institutions to learn the L2.

3. Social experience
 The amount and degree of excellence gained from experience in society can make successful
learners.
 The way native people used modifications(repetitions) or corrections(direct- indirect) with foreign
learners can also make successful learners.

4. Relationship of L1 and L2
 The success also depends in the relationship between L1 and L2, so it facilitates the acquisition in
vocabulary and writing.
 The Spanish and Portuguese have similar vocabulary, this makes easier to learn the language.
Same word and meaning “amigo”, “bonito”

5. Age
 There is not a specific age to succeed in L2.
 Advantages are different between young and old learners.
 Young learners have cognitive benefits as: flexibility, enhanced memory, and most of them do not
have accent.
 Old learners are more logical, use language properly, follow rules.

6. Aptitude
 Aptitude varies from learners
 The aptitude in learners can be an innate capacity or acquired during the learning process.
Aptitude is related with the memory capacity to:
 Remember grammar, vocabulary, sounds etc.
 Associate all the elements and make analysis .

7. Motivation
Motivation has a big influence in learners:
 High motivation can accelerate the progress in learning L2
 Low motivation can decelerate the progress in learning L2
Both types of motivation, to get a job(Instrumental) or personal(integrative), has not influence at all to
achieve success.

8. Instruction
 The use of good teaching methodologies will help learners to be successful.
Teacher’s responsibilities are:
 To be creative
 Identify the best teaching style
 Handle properly different strategies in order to have successful learners.