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Adults and Children Have Different Ability To Acquire Their Second Language

This document discusses several factors that influence how successfully and quickly individuals learn a second language. It categorizes these factors as either internal, relating to individual characteristics like age, personality and motivation, or external, relating to experiences and native language. Specifically, it notes that children tend to learn a new language more efficiently than adults, introverted learners progress more slowly, intrinsic motivation correlates with better outcomes, prior experiences provide a stronger base for learning, greater cognitive ability facilitates faster progress, and learning a related second language is easier than one from a different language family.

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Sabeen Roja
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51 views

Adults and Children Have Different Ability To Acquire Their Second Language

This document discusses several factors that influence how successfully and quickly individuals learn a second language. It categorizes these factors as either internal, relating to individual characteristics like age, personality and motivation, or external, relating to experiences and native language. Specifically, it notes that children tend to learn a new language more efficiently than adults, introverted learners progress more slowly, intrinsic motivation correlates with better outcomes, prior experiences provide a stronger base for learning, greater cognitive ability facilitates faster progress, and learning a related second language is easier than one from a different language family.

Uploaded by

Sabeen Roja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adults and children have different ability to acquire their second language.

Some students learn a new


language more quickly and easily than others. This simple fact is known by all who have
themselves learned a second language or taught those who are using their second language in
school. Clearly some language learners are successful by virtue of their sheer determination hard
work and persistence. However there are other crucial factors influencing success that are largely
beyond the control of the learner. Factors can be broadly categorized as internal and external. It
is their complex interplay that determines the speed and facility with which the new language is
learned.

Age: Second language acquisition is influenced by the age of the learner. Children who already
have solid literacy skills in their own language seem to be in the best position to acquire a new
language efficiently. Motivated older learners can be very successful too but usually struggle to
achieve native-speaker-equivalent pronunciation and intonation.

Personality: Introverted or anxious learners usually make slower progress, particularly in the
development of oral skills. They are less likely to take advantage of opportunities to speak or to
seek out such opportunities. More outgoing students will not worry about the inevitability of
making mistakes. They will take risks and thus will give themselves much more practice.

Motivation (intrinsic): Intrinsic motivation has been found to correlate strongly with
educational achievement. Clearly students who enjoy language learning and take pride in their
progress will do better than those who don't.
Extrinsic motivation is also a significant factor. ESL students for example who need to learn
English in order to take a place at an American university or to communicate with a new English
boy/girlfriend are likely to make greater efforts and thus greater progress.

Experiences: Learners who have acquired general knowledge and experience are in a stronger
position to develop a new language than those who haven't. The student for example who has
already lived in 3 different countries and been exposed to various languages and cultures has a
stronger base for learning a further language than the student who hasn't had such experiences.

Cognition: In general it seems that students with greater cognitive abilities (intelligence) will
make the faster progress. Some linguists believe that there is a specific innate language learning
ability that is stronger in some students than in others.

Native language: Students who are learning a second language which is from the same language
family as their first language have, in general, a much easier task than those who aren't. So for
example a Dutch child will learn English more quickly than a Japanese child.

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