CHAPTER 1 Introduction: describing and explaining L2 acquisition Rod Ellis: 3-14

1. CHAPTER 1Introduction: describing and explaining L2 acquisitionRod Ellis: 3-14 SakilahBewafa 2201410001

2. Let’s discuss them!

3. Second Language Acquisition (L2 acquisition) can be defined as the study of the way in which people learn a language other than their mother tongue, inside or outside of a classroom. What is second language acquisition?

4. What are the goals of SLA?

5. Two case studies A case study of an adult learner A case study of two child learners

6. A case study of an adult learner An adult learner in naturalistic surroundings, a native speaker of Japanese, after learning English for three years, he is able to communicate actively in English. However, he had not really acquired grammar of English.

7. A case study of two child learners Two child learners in a classroom context, after learning English for about a year, they are able to acquire the ability to perform request for services and goods over the period of study, but they are still far short of native-like competence.

8. Methodological issues One issue has to do with what it is that needs to be described Another issue concerns what it means to say that a learner has acquired a feature of the target language

9. Issues in the description of learner language An important issue in SLA is the role of the formulaic chunks play, not just in enhancing learners’ performance but also in their acquisition of an L2 One of the most interesting issues raised by the two case studies is whether learners acquire the language systematically

10. Issues in the explanation of L2 acquisition An explanation of L2 acquisition must account for both item and system learning and how the two interrelate