Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

1
Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

• Second language acquisition research focuses on
  the developing knowledge and use of a language by
  children and adults who already know at least one
  other language.

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 108.
2
What a Theory Can Do

• A (good) theory
• allows us to ORGANIZE what we find / discover.
  (NOT haphazard)
• gives us something to use as a basis for
  EXPLANATIONS
• guides us to ASK certain questions and look for
  the ANSWERS
• SHOULD help us in our TEACHING / LEARNING of
  languages

3
SLA Questions

• What is the nature of language?
• How are languages represented in the mind?
• How is language processed?
• Is learning language same/different from learning
  anything else?
• How are languages learned?
• What implications are there for policy makers?

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 108.
4
Why do we need to learn about more than one
theory?

• 1. There is NOT JUST ONE, BEST theory. Language
  is complex. Learning a language is complex. One
  alone wont do it.
• 2. Your personality as a teacher will make
  certain approaches more appealing to you and you
  will do better with one theory than another.
• 3. Students learning styles / preferences
  differ. Mixing and matching approaches / methods
  / etc provide you the most/best chances to meet
  student needs.

5
Theories of Language Acquisition 1

• Linguistic Perspectives
• Psychological Perspectives
• Sociocultural Perspectives

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 108, 110, 114.
6
Theories of Language Acquisition 2

• Linguistic Perspectives
• Universal Grammar
• Monitor Theory

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 108-110.
7
Theories of Language Acquisition 3

• Psychological Perspectives
• Behaviorism
• Cognitive Psychology
• Connectionism
• Processabilty Theory
• Interactionist Perspectives

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 110-114.
8
Theories of Language Acquisition 4

• Sociocultural Perspectives

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 114.
9
Observations about L1 Acquisition

• 1. Almost all children learn the language
• around them at about the same time.
• 2. Even mentally impaired children learn
• Language.
• 3. Logical Problem of Language Acquisition
• a. Language input defective
• b. Little systematic feedback

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 109.
10
Krashens Monitor Theory Hypotheses

• 1. Acquisition hypothesis
• (Learning ? Acquisition)
• 2. Monitor hypothesis
• 3. Natural order hypothesis
• 4. Comprehensible input hypothesis
• (i 1)
• 5. Affective filter hypothesis

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 110.
11
Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis

• If L1 and L2 are similar
• no problems learning L2 structure.
• If L1 and L2 are different
• yes problems learning L2 structure.
• If L2 had something L1 did not
• yes problems learning L2 structure.

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 111.
12
Processability Theory Pedagogical Conclusions

• Teachability Hypothesis
• Can't skip a stage
• Might be able to encourage (or impede) moving
  through a stage more rapidly.

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 113.
13
Learner Language Research Focus

• Interlanguage
• Error Analysis Studies
• Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis
• Developmental Sequences
• Morpheme Acquisition Studies
• L1 Influence

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 115-117.
14
L1 Influence

• It has been observed that some aspects of
  language are more susceptible to L1 influence
  than others. For example, pronunciation and word
  order are more likely to show L1 influence than
  grammatical morphemes.

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, p. 116.
15
Observations to Account for in L2 Acquisition

• 1. L1 learners all learn their language
• 2. Not all L2 learners achieve the same
• level of proficiency
• 3. Age factors influence ultimate
• proficiency
• 4. L1 influences L2

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 109, 111-113, 115.
16
Observations to Account for in L2 Acquisition

• 5. Restructuring apparently occurs
• 6. Chunking important in language learning and
  use
• 7. Acquisition develops in predictable
• stages

Spada, Nina and Patsy M. Lightbown. 2010. Second
Language Acquisition. In Norbert Schmitt, editor,
Chapter 7, pp. 108-123. An Introduction to
Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition, pp. 53-69.
London Hodder Education, pp. 111, 113, 115.
17
The Study of Second Language Acquisition(Rod
Ellis, 1994)

• Table of Contents1
• 1 Background
• 1. SLA research An overview
• 2 The Description of Learner Language
• 2. Learner errors and error analysis
• 3. Developmental patterns Order and
• sequence in SLA
• 4. Variability in learner language
• 5. Pragmatic aspects of learner language

18
The Study of Second Language Acquisition(Rod
Ellis, 1994)

• Table of Contents2
• 3 Explaining SLA External Factors
• 6. Social factors and SLA
• 7. Input and interaction and SLA
• 4 Explaining SLA Internal Factors
• 8. Language transfer
• 9. Cognitive accounts of SLA
• 10. Linguistic universals and SLA

19
The Study of Second Language Acquisition(Rod
Ellis, 1994)

• Table of Contents3
• 5 Explaining Individual Differences in SLA
• 11. Individual learner differences
• 12. Learning strategies
• 6 Classroom SLA
• 13. Classroom interaction and SLA
• 14. Formal instruction and SLA
• 7 Conclusion
• 15. Data, theory, and applications in SLA
  research