This document discusses the stages of language acquisition from birth through age 5. It covers the pre-production stage of crying and babbling as an infant, the early production stage of imitating sounds and saying first words between 6 months and 2.5 years old, gaining fluency in sentences by age 5, and beginning reading and writing at that age as well. It also mentions the affective filter theory that negative emotions can interfere with second language acquisition.

2. Pre-production / listening
Waaah!!!
Zzzz…
Waaah!!!
Waaah!!!
(birth - 6 months)
2

3. Early Production- speech approximation /imitation
Goo goo?
Ga ga!!
Aña ma.
¡Claro que sí!
(6 months-2.5 years)
3
ba

4. Early Production - words and sentences!(6 months-2.5 years)
4
Da Da…
You are a
GENIUS!
Say it again!
OH MY GOSH!
SHE’S TALKING!

5. FLUENCY!!!
Mommy! Danny is
sticking beans in the
cat’s ears even though
I told him not to and
that you’d be
mad!
So, I’m confused…
who should I choose to
be my best friend? It’s
a hard choice, don’t
you think Grandma?
Pretty please buy
me an ice cream
cone and I promise
to be good for the
rest of my life…I
PROMISE!
At 5 years of age, they have native like proficiency and can speak almost as well as the adults
around them.
5

6. 6
READING & WRITING
(5 years old)

7. What’s the music angle?

8. 8
MUSIC ACQUISITION
Teacher’s Manual, pgs. 3-28

9. Mama, MILK!
Mama, milk?
Mama, milk!
TRANSLATION:
“Mom, I have been
waiting for a while…are
you getting me my milk
yet”
TRANSLATION:
“Mom, if I don’t get my
milk soon my world will be
ruined forever. How could
you be so cruel?”
TRANSLATION:
“Mom, it just doesn’t
get any better than
this! I just can’t believe
it…all for me!” 9
SPEECH EMERGENCE

10. “Mama, milk?”
Wow…
what part of
“Mama milk?”
does she not
understand?
WHAT WE DON’T DO…
That’s not a sentence!
THIS WOULD KICK OUR
KIDS’ AFFECTIVE FILTERS
INTO OVERDRIVE!
Wait, would it help
you if I wrote it out
on paper for you?
10
Look, I think I see where you’re
going with this. Try using a verb. Say,”Mama
I would like some milk.” And then, for
added effect, say “Please.”

11. Oh my gosh,
what on earth
could THAT be?
11
THE AFFECTIVE FILTER

12. What do you call
someone who speaks
two languages?
What do you call
someone who speaks
three languages?
And someone who
Speaks just one?
Bilingual.
Trilingual.
An American?
12
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

14. TRUE OR FALSE?
The fast team? The slow team?
ANSWER: FALSE!
14
Children learn languages more quickly than adults.

15. In 1995 he:
• is head surgeon of major hospital
• has a staff of 300
• is a respected voice of authority
• is a known member of his community
In 2008 he:
• moves to NYC
• drives a cab
• doesn’t speak English
• is a complete newcomer
TAKING THE PLUNGE
THE PLUNGE
15

16. FRUSTRATED
HUMILIATED
ANXIOUS
UPSET
SCARED
NERVOUS
is an impediment to learning caused by negative emotional responses to one's environment. Certain
emotions, such as anxiety, self-doubt, and OTHERS interfere with the process of acquiring a second
language. They function as a filter between the speaker and the listener that reduces the amount of
language input the listener is able to understand. These negative emotions prevent efficient
processing of the language input. The blockage can be reduced by sparking interest,
providing low anxiety environments and bolstering the learner's self-esteem.
CONFUSED ALIENATED HELPLESS
THE “AFFECTIVE FILTER”
STUPID
EXASPERATED HOPELESS
16

17. Adults can and do create elaborate support systems to expedite the necessities of day
to day living and to feel a sense of belonging. An added benefit of this is that non-native
speakers can avoid losing face, feeling shame or being made to feel uncomfortable due
to a language barrier. However, this type of environment is not conducive to language
acquisition.
17
AVOIDANCE

18. 18
A low-anxiety environment?

19. APPROXIMATION
(Gangnam Style)

20. APPROXIMATION/EMERGENCE

21. APPROXIMATION/EMERGENCE

22. APPROXIMATION/EMERGENCE

23. Two
Words
kick

24. Bonobos are the hominids that
most resemble humans in their
cognitive abilities. Scientists
like Sue Baker have shown that
they can acquire language…

25. Acquisition vs. Learning

26. Rock And Roll Radio- The Ramones
Land Of A Thousand Dances- Wilson Pickett
26
We Will Rock You - Queen
Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playing in the street
Gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place
Singin’ “We will we will rock you”
Can you SAY these?

27. All people are musical
We are music “teachers” but we
are also music “speakers” and
guides. Our job is to draw the
music out of our students rather
than drum it in.

28. 28
mus•ic•ian |myo͞oˈziSHən|
(noun)
a person who plays a musical instrument,
esp. as a profession, or is musically
talented: your father was a fine musician
| aspiring rock and pop musicians.

29. 29
mu•sic mak•er |ˈmyo ͞ozik ˈmākər|
(noun)
a person who makes music esp. for their
own enjoyment or the enjoyment of
others: he was one of the first music
makers at a party| emerging music makers