This document discusses factors that influence second language variation and acquisition at both the micro and macro social levels. At the micro level, it discusses how contextual dimensions, linguistic contexts like phonology, psychological contexts like attention, and microsocial contexts like formality influence variation. It also discusses how input, interaction, and modifications to interaction are essential for language learning. At the macro level, it discusses how global and national status of languages, boundaries and identities, social institutions, social categories of learners, and circumstances of learning like prior knowledge, social development, and formal vs informal training impact second language acquisition.

1. MICRO SOCIAL
FACTORS
L2 VARIATION
• Contextual Dimensions influence in L2 variation.
• Linguistic contexts as phonological variables
• Psychological contexts is about the amount of attention during the
production, it can be written or spoken.
• Microsocial contexts, it is about the level of formality of the
participants and their relationships
INPUT AND INTERACTION
• Every learning stage need a lot of input
• Input is essential to learn L2, to activate linguistic and
cognitive processes.
• Social interaction is one of the most important inputs
• Input modifications are: Characteristics of foreign talk,
Modifications In Academic Texts, Interactional Modifications,
Feedback
INTERACTION AS THE GENESIS OF
LANGUAGE
• Interaction, based on Vigotsky Socio
Cultural Theory, is the basis for
learning, mental activities and
mediation.
• Interpersonal action as averbal
collaboration, as scaffolding
• Intrapersonal interaction,
communication between the person
and his or her own mind, private
speech or self-talk

2. MACRO SOCIAL
FACTORS
1.Global and National status of L1 and L2
• Languages have power and status, political
identification and cohesion
• Languages are symbols of nationalization
2. Boundaries and identities
• Boundaries can be present internal and external in a country
• Boundaries are present to unify members of a nation and to
exclude outsiders from insider communication
• To cross national boundaries, people need to learn language
acculturation.
3. Institutional forces and constraints
Social institutions are established by law in a nation, regulate
people’s lives in politics, religion, education
Language social control, determines access to knowledge,
inclusion or discrimination4. Social categories
• Society divides people in categories such as sex,
age, ethnicity, education level, occupation,
economic status
• L2 learners from different social levels have to
afford with several and difficulties at the moment
of learning
5. Circumstances of learning
• In ecological contexts, prior knowledge is very
important to acquire a L2
• Social development, familiar circles, society
influence a lot in L2 learning
• To formal process of learning is much easier to
be successful than people who has an informal
training.
• History, geopolitical position and economic level
are determinant circumstances of learning