Second Language Acquisition.mp4

Second Language Acquisition in youngsters.

A Second language can be acquired easily at an early age rather than in youth. Children who learn a second language early store both their native and second language in the same locations in the brain. Older children may have a harder time because their brain has to do extra work to create additional space for the second language. Then, we can see that youngsters have many disadvantages in comparison to children in second language acquisition: that is why teachers need to be aware of all those characteristics that can affect students' learning processes to create strategies to facilitate that process for youngsters.
Communication abilities have been seen as an exclusive feature of human beings. At first glance, no other animal has a communication system as elaborated and complex as humans'. Besides, it is true that animals do not have a communication system with rules, a repertoire of symbols which would allow them to obtain an unlimited set of combinations that provide each one a determinate meaning. But like Steven Pinker, professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology said "[...] many other claims about human uniqueness, such as the fact that humans were the only animals to use tools or to fabricate them, have turned out to be false. Some researchers have shown that apes have a capability for language but never profited from a humanlike cultural milieu in which language was taught, and they have thus tried to teach apes language-like systems." Although, these experiments are being developed, results seem to be successful.
Being aware of a language acquisition process would make it difficult. In the earliest years of life, children are not aware that they are acquiring a language. It is a natural and unconscious process which does not require special instruction, or formal operational thought. Being aware of the process could be a hindrance rather than a benefit in learning a language. According to Ausubel (1964) "adults possessing a superior cognitive capacity often do not successfully learn a second language. "Ellen rosansk (1975:96) said that what eases the process for children is the fact that they are "highly centered" and that lack of flexibility and decentration could be a necessity for acquiring a language. That is why children who learn a second language have advantages over other youngsters; Joy Hirsch found that they actually keep their native language and second language in the same brain sector, unlike youngsters who make extra work creating space in their brains for the second language.
Environment is a crucial aspect within a language acquisition process. Environment is involved in language; children need to have a linguistic contribution from society, first of all from parents, to acquire a language. Throughout history, we have found cases of abandoned children who have survived on their own in inhospitable places, in all cases when they are found, they are mute. Although it might seem obvious, children need to hear an existing language to acquire that language. There is also a curious interaction between heredity and environment, a child with Indian genes does not find Hindi easier than English. In fact, he can learn any language he is exposed to. Social immersion facilitates second language acquisition, " In a social immersion situation in which learners live in a country where the target language is spoken, second language acquisition is facilitated by the rich language exposure available and by the inherent need to communicate. At the same time, students are challenged to the highest levels of oral and written acquisition because they will need native-like skills to qualify for future education and employment opportunities. In contrast, studying a foreign language tends to be limited in opportunities and by the necessity to use language for functional communication."
Despite the different disadvantages, second language acquisition in youngsters is possible. Teachers and youngsters together can achieve successful results by means of all the strategies mentioned before. The great benefits of the immersion in a country where the second language is spoken, is that a second language is considered a tool for social interaction, academic learning and so on.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Second
• Language
• Acquisition