Second Language Acquisition

1. Second Language Acquisition • Preproduction • Early Production • Speech Emergence • Intermediate Fluency • Continued Language Development Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

2. Second Language Acquisition The process of language acquisition is lengthy. Students move through five stages while developing English language proficiency. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

3. Preproduction Students observe and internalize the new language. They use gestures, pointing and nodding to communicate. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

4. Early Production Students continue to acquire English and they use language patterns, yes/no responses and single words to communicate. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

5. Speech Emergence Students begin to use simple sentences. At this stage they may begin to initiate discussion. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

6. Intermediate Fluency Students are fairly comfortable in social language situations. They state opinions and ask for clarification. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

7. Continued Language Development Students participate in classroom activities with additional support for comprehension, academic language and cultural information. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

8. Factors that determine progression • Prior knowledge • Cultural background • Reason for immigration • Personality • Previous schooling • Literacy in first language • Proficiency in first language Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

9. What the research says: Research shows that children learn social language skills much sooner than the academic language skills. Although children may seem at first not to understand what is going on in the classroom, they are actually transferring concepts and language structure. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

10. Silent Period In the first months, children will go through a “silent period” where they may not produce language but will be listening and internalizing English language structure. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD