Second Language Acquisition

1. Second Language Acquisition

2. Agenda • Class introductions and syllabus • Second Language Acquisition (SLA) quiz?!?! • What is SLA? And other definitions • Languages I know • Who is a “good” language learner? What are the characteristics needed to be a good language learner? Was/Am I a good learner?

3. What’s the truth? • I have a twin sister. • When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress. • I can speak eight languages. • I can play three instruments: piano, flute, and guitar. • I hate eating mushrooms, bananas, and beets, but I actually like eating Kimchi.

4. Essential Questions • What is Second Language Acquisition? • What is the difference between a “first language” (L1) and a “second/target language” (L2)? • How will knowledge of this field help me as an English teacher?

5. What is Second Language Acquisition (SLA)? • Study of individuals and groups who are learning another language besides their native language. • How (the process) of learning that language. • L2 (Second Language) • Target language (the aim or the goal of learning).

6. Informal vs. formal learning • Informal= “naturalistic” contexts; outside of the classroom • Formal= in classrooms Where does most of the language learning take place?

7. The 3 BIG Questions • What exactly does the L2 learner come to know? (What do they learn at the end of the language learning context?) • How does the learner acquire (learn) this knowledge? • Why are some learners more successful than others?

8. SLA= COMPLEX • Linguists= Characteristics of the differences and similarities in the languages they are being learned • Psychologists and psycholinguists= mental or cognitive processes • Sociolinguists=understanding the meaning of what is being said. • Social psychologists=group processes

9. What is a second language? What is the difference? • Second Language • Foreign Language • Library Language • Auxiliary Language

10. Definitions • Second Language- A language needed for education, employment, and other basic purposes. (Immigrants) • Foreign Language- Travel or studied at school; no immediate or practical application. • Library Language- Used for further learning through reading. • Auxiliary Language- Meant for communication between people from different countries who don’t share a similar language. (The United Nations)

11. What is a first language? • L1, Native language, primary language, mother tongue • Acquired during early childhood • Learned in “naturalistic settings” as part of people growing up among people who speak them.

12. Your Language Experience • List all of the languages you know. • Classify them as L1 or L2. • Further classify the L2s as “second”, “foreign”, “library”, or “auxiliary”. • How did you learn these languages? (School, “naturalistic”) • How well do you know these languages?

13. Characteristics of a “good” language learner • What does it mean to be a “good” language learner? • What skills do good language learners need to possess? • Do you think that you are a “good” or “poor” language learner? Why or why not? • Do you think your students are “good” or “poor” language learners? Why or why not?

14. One Minute Note • What did you learn today? • What did you not understand from today’s class? • What would you like to learn more?