Phonetics

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Phonetics Language Acquisition

• How does phonetic aptitude relate to my ability
  to learn a second language?

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Illustration Removing a Stump
What do we need to get this stump out of the
ground? A lever might be helpful!
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What else do we need to get this stump out of the
ground? A lever without a fulcrum is just about
useless!
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But without some weight on the end of the lever
that stump isnt going anywhere!
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What else would make this job easier? Lets try
moving the fulcrum closer to the stump.
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Is there anything else that would make this job
easier? Lets add some more weight on the end
of the lever.
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How does this relate to language acquisition?
Learning a second language is a tough job. It
takes blood, sweat and tears!
language
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There are some things that make that job easier.
Each one of us has certain God-given abilities
such as an aptitude in phonetics. However ability
alone does not guarantee that you will be able to
learn a second language.
language
ability
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The amount of exposure to the language being
learned is a significant factor in language
acquisition. The more that you are with the
people, the quicker you will learn the language.
language
ability
exposure
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The amount of exposure to the language being
learned is a significant factor in language
acquisition. The more that you are with the
people, the quicker you will learn the language.
language
ability
So get out of the office and spend time with the
people!
exposure
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Attitude and motivation are also significant
factors in language acquisition.
Ability is definitely helpful in language
acquisition. However, exposure, attitude and
motivation are probably more significant factors
in learning a second language.
attitude motivation
language
ability
exposure
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Dwight Gradin (Mission Training
International) It has not been established how
significant a persons basic ability to memorize,
to make associations, to see how items relate to
or are different from each other, to comprehend
concepts, etc., is to learning a language.
Aptitude is much more significant if you are
learning language strictly at language school or
from a book, less significant if you are
constantly mingling with the people and
submerging yourself in the culture.