Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Reviewing First and Second Language Acquisition: A Comparison Between Young and Adult Learners.
This article is written by Hiromi Hadley. The main focus of this article is to compare the abilities of learning a first and second language between children and adults. The author focuses on language input as an external factor and the learner’s age as an internal factor. The author then goes on to explain the implications for English language learning in classrooms in Japan. The author hopes that the findings from her research will “encourage second language learners and parents, as well as practicing teachers, to reflect upon their own learning and teaching strategies” (Hadley). This article focuses on many different points like the difference in terms of quantity and quality of external input between children, an L1, and adults learning an L2 in the classroom, and the learner’s physical, cognitive, and affective developments as an internal factor. When focusing on input as an External Factor the author centers the attention on both the quantity and the quality of the learners input, connectionism, meaningful input, and the differences in additional input that is provided through interaction. The autor also talks about how child-directed speech and teacher talk affect language acquisition and levels of comprehension. The learner’s age as an internal factor is another topic that this article looks at. The author talks about how physical, cognitive, and affective developments in the learner all affect their ability to learn a language. Language ego and second identity are key factors in affective development as well as attitudes and motivation. All of these things that affect the learner also affect his or her ability to learn a second language. The Critical Period Hypothesis is the idea that language acquisition in L2 learners is increasingly difficult to do after the age of puberty. This hypothesis shows that there are age-related differences in the acquisition of language due to the fact that the learner goes through significant physical, cognitive, and emotional changes at puberty. The author believes that for people to acquire a second language in the classroom better they must focus on the learner as a person and the learning environment. When you have a good learning environment and the learner is up to the task then language acquisition may not be all that hard.
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18 comments:
It is generally easier for younger individuals to learn a new language compared to older adults. Learning is a process, especially when trying to learn something which is completely foreign. A great strategy is to breakdown langauge into smaller subcategories and later connect their significance to each other as a whole.
I had always known that it was harder for someone older to learn a second language. However, I never really knew that puberty was a factor. I also agree that a positive environment is conducive to language acquisition.
Linguistically, it is proven that once a person reaches the age of 10-12 it is harder for them to learn languages because the language learning part of the brain closes. This is why trying to learn a second language later is increasingly difficult. The best way to learn a language when one is older is through immersion. A person can go and live with a group of people who speak the language they wish to learn and learn that language in 6 months. However, if just taught as a 'foreign' language, like in High School, then it is more likely that the person will not fully learn the language because it is harder to process language. This article was alright, but I think the author does not have enough research to back up the statements that were made.
The Connectionism approach seems pretty much a given, of course the longer that a person hears a language the easier it will be to learn it because there are more chances for the brain to get used to and use the connections made between words and their meanings. The difficulty that adults have compared to children in learning a second language I always thought was only because the attitudes and motivation, a child is open to learn, as opposed to adults who are "hard-headed." I like how this article offered up other scientific ideas (although not proven or disproven) such as the brain development and the plasticity. Also, L2 learning is more difficult in the classroom just because of the many hinderances on the ways to learn---lack of time on the subject (maybe only 1 hour a day), hard to find things that make the subject interesting or applicable to daily life, etc
It is definitely easier for young children to learn multiple languages. I have a little cousin who speaks English and Korean fluently and also even speaks some German. Her mother is Korean and her father(my uncle)has learned to speak German and Korean from his time being stationed overseas while in the military for 20+ years. It should be obvious though, considering children pick up on English because they hear it spoken all the time, so if you have a multi-lingual family, odds are that your child will pick up on whatever language you use around them.
I do not find it very difficult the believe that adults have a harder time learning a second language than children because that is when their minds are really developing. Plus, there have been numerous studies done on this subject and they all turn up with the same results.
I do not find it very difficult the believe that adults have a harder time learning a second language than children because that is when their minds are really developing. Plus, there have been numerous studies done on this subject and they all turn up with the same results.
I do not find it very difficult the believe that adults have a harder time learning a second language than children because that is when their minds are really developing. Plus, there have been numerous studies done on this subject and they all turn up with the same results.
I do not find it very difficult the believe that adults have a harder time learning a second language than children because that is when their minds are really developing. Plus, there have been numerous studies done on this subject and they all turn up with the same results.
I do not find it very difficult the believe that adults have a harder time learning a second language than children because that is when their minds are really developing. Plus, there have been numerous studies done on this subject and they all turn up with the same results.
Very Interesting. I always thought that kids were better at learning things than adults. I suspected that it was because adults have other things to do and cannot devote as much time to it as kids can. It now seems that this may not be true. I would be very interested in seeing more research done in this area. Very interesting.
Bryan Norbut
This acticle kind of seemed common sense to me. Of course the better the input (teaching) and atmosphere, the better the student acquires the desired language. Younger students develop language skills easier than adult learners. This also seems pretty easy to grasp. I wonder if childern who learn their home language and then another foreign language ever have any difficulty with confusing them. Adult learners would not because they have such a concrete language system all ready in place.
I agree that it is easier for a younger person to learn a second language than an adult. I am taking Spanish now and have a hard time remembering simple things but my little brother took some Spanish in his classes and picked it up immediately. I thought the article was very interesting.
This confirmed much of what I have always heard. For a child to pick a language is simple; however, for an older person the task is usually a great challenge. It think this article re-established what most people already know to be true.
It is easier for younger kids to learn a second language than older people. Positive envirnoments always help in learning.
It is definitely easier for younger children to learn a new language than an adult. I think this is because children do not have the preconceived notions of their first language as deeply ingrained in their heads when learning, so they do not have to overcome as many well-developed language rules to learn another language.
--bonnie
I think it's easier for younger people to learn anything faster. It may sound mean, but the longer a person has to be stuck in their ways, the harder it is to teach them something new.
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