Second Language Acquisition PDF

 SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUSITION UNDERSTANDING FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PREPARED BY: NUR ATIQAH IBERAHIM  WHAT IS FIRST LANGUAGE ? The concept of a first language is commonly taken as synonymous with native language, primary language, or mother tongue...

 SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUSITION UNDERSTANDING FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PREPARED BY: NUR ATIQAH IBERAHIM  WHAT IS FIRST LANGUAGE ? The concept of a first language is commonly taken as synonymous with native language, primary language, or mother tongue. But are these concepts exactly similar or do we need to distinguish them? The similarity that all the above concepts share is that they are assumed to be languages that humans acquire in their early childhood (usually beginning before the age of about 3 years) and that the languages are learned as part of growing up among people who speak them. Acquisition of more than one language during early childhood is called simultaneous multilingualism (individual may have more than one “native” language)  WHAT IS SECOND LANGUAGE ? Simply put, having, knowing, or understanding a language apart from the first language, native language, primary language, or mother tongue. However, when it concerns language learning the above definition may seem too simplistic. The difference functions of the second language may determine the specific areas of vocabulary knowledge, the level of grammatical complexity, and the language skills needed. A second language: typically an offical or societally dominant language needed for education, employment, and other basic purposes.  A FOREIGN LANGUAGE A language not widely used in the learner’s immediate context which might be used for future travel or other cross-cultural communication situations, or studied as a curricular requirement or elective in school, but with no immediate or necessary practical application  “ACQUISITION” AND “LEARNING” LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: This happens through a subconscious process where learners are unaware of grammatical rules (syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary). This is similar to the way humans acquire their first language. A range of theories has been created to explain this. LANGUAGE LEARNING: On the other hand, happens through direct instruction in the rules of language. This is when learners have conscious knowledge of the new knowledge of the new language and can talk about that knowledge.  FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION There are (3) major theories when discussing first language acquisition (FLA): 1. Behaviourism 2. Innatism 3. Interactionism BEHAVIOURISM B.F. Skinner(1957). People’s behaviors are directly observable, rather than the mental systems underlying these behaviours. Children are born with a mind that is like a blankstate. Language = verbal behaviour Skinner’s Operant Conditioning  SKINNER’S OPERANT CONDITIONING (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. A rat is placed in a cage. This is a special cage (called a “Skinner box”) that has a bar or pedal on one wall that, when pressed, causes a little mechanism to release a food pellet into the cage. The rat is bouncing around the cage, doing whatever it is rats do, when he accidentally presses the bar and so a food pellet falls into the cage. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT POSITIVE PUNISHMENT (Less likely to be repeated) “Suzie does not complete (More likely to be her homework” repeated) “Jimmy completes his Give Suzie’s mom a phone call homework” Give Suzie a telling-off in front of the class Teacher praises him Give a shiny gold sticker NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT (Less likely to be repeated) (More likely to be “Suzie does not complete repeated) her homework” “Jimmy completes his homework” Take away her break/lunch times No detention at lunch  Children learn language through imitation & habit formation. Therefore, factors affect children’s success in language learning: The quality and quantity of language they hear The consistency of the reinforcement offered in the environment Behaviorism- Imitation and practice as a primary process in language learning development Example 1 Imitation: word-for-word repetition of all or part of someone else’s utterance Father: Would you like to have some biscuits and apple juice? Katie: Some biscuits and apple juice. SITUATION TEST YOURSELF A mother is going for a walk to the park with her small child, Timmy. Timmy’s holding her mum’s hand but when he gets to a road, he sees a little puppy on the other side of the road. He let go of his mum’s hand and ran across the road to the little puppy. Thankfully, there weren’t any cars so Timmy was safe. “Timmy, you know you are not supposed to cross the road on your own. That was very naughty. Because you have done that, we are not going to the park now.” Thank You!