1. *
*What is second language acquisition? Is a term related to the
acquisition of second and subsequent languages.
*Foreign languages can be included as well in this group (depends
on the author)
REFLECT
Do you think that learning a second language is basically the
same as or different from first language acquisition? Why?
2. *
*Age and Second Language Acquisition.
*Do you believe that the earlier a learner begins learning a
second language, the better they will become?
3. *
*The effect of age on language acquisition has been
extensively researched and written about over the years.
*The common idea is that “the younger is better”
*That is to say, the younger you start learning a second
language, the better you will become.
*Can you think about any example?
4. *
*We can draw our attention on the example given by Nunan
(2012):
*Children of immigrants to English speaking countries,
unlike their parents usually end up developing native-like
competence in the language.
*We can ask ourselves as language teachers the following
question:
“Are younger learners better at learning a foreign language
than older learners?
5. *
The Critical Period Hypothesis.
*Is the name given to the idea that young children
can learn a second language particularly
effectively before puberty.
*Because their brains are still able to use the
mechanism that assisted the first language
acquisition.
6. *
The Critical Period Hypothesis.
*This Hypothesis states that biological changes in the brain
at around puberty result in the two hemispheres of the
brain functioning independently.
*Scholars have been arguing that the optimun stage for
acquiring another language is in the first ten years of life
because it is then that the brain retains its maximun
“plasticity” or flexibility.
7. *
The Critical Period Hypothesis.
• It is suggested that around puberty, the brain loses its
“plasticity”, the two hemispheres of the brain become
much more independent.
• Language is largely established in the left hemisphere.
8. *
*Are younger learners better at learning a foreign
language than older learners?
*What do you think is the optimal or “best” age to
start children learning a second language?
9. *
The Critical Period Hypothesis.
In summary, then:
• Starting age does not affect the route of SLA. Although there
may be differences in the acquisitional order, these are not
the result of age.
• Starting age affects the rate of learning. Where grammar and
vocabulary are concerned, adolescent learners do better
than either children or adults, when the lenght of exposure
is held constant. Where pronunciation is concerned, there is
no applicable difference.
10. *
The Critical Period Hypothesis.
• Both number of years of exposure and starting age affect
the level of success. The number of years of exposure
contributes greatly to the overall communicative fluency
of the learners, but starting age determines the level of
accuracy achieved, particularly in pronunciation.
11. *
Discussion.
Do you agree with this theory?
What about the role of the environment in children’s
language acquisition?
What do you think the role of interaction might play in this
theory?
