Stages of L2 Acquisition

1. Stages of L2 Acquisition

2. The Difficulties of Learning English… I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough? Others may stumble, but not you On hiccough, thorough, laugh and through. Well done! And now you wish, perhaps, To learn of less familiar traps? Beware of heard, a dreadful word, That looks like beard and sounds like bird. And dead: It’s said like bed, not bead— For goodness sake, don’t call it ‘deed’! Watch out for meat and great and threat (They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).

3. The Difficulties of Learning English… I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough? Others may stumble, but not you On hiccough, thorough, lough and through. Well done! And now you wish, perhaps, To learn of less familiar traps? Beware of heard, a dreadful word, That looks like beard and sounds like bird. And dead: It’s said like bed, not bead— For goodness sake, don’t call it ‘deed’! Watch out for meat and great and threat (They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).

4. Summary of Language Acquisition The child learns language by unconsciously generating rules, perhaps to fill in an innate blueprint. His errors often indicate that learning is taking place. He learns language in meaningful, supportive, and communicative settings. He understands more than he can say. He will require a lot of time to become fluent.

5. Key Differences: L1 and L2 Acquisition First Language: Learned through total immersion Learned at home Learned by young children Learned in order to communicate with loved ones Largely an unconscious process No time pressure to learn Must learn developmental concepts as well as language Second Language: Learned through partial immersion Hampered by emotions Learned at an older age Learned to communicate in less personal situations such as schools or work Very conscious and often methodical Great time pressures Acquire while learning academic concepts already acquired in the L1