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Date Posted: 18:28:28 10/18/05 Tue
Author: Giovanna Ferreira Mendes Avelar de Pinho
Subject: Final Paper for evaluation - Keys issues in the study of Second Language Acquisition

FINAL PAPER FOR EVALUATION: KEY ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION – PERSONAL ASPECTS

I can say clearly that some personal aspects can interfere in the Second Language acquisition Process. I can nominate the learners age, which can distinguish even the time they will require to get proficient. In general, adults are able to learn syntactic and morphological development earlier than children; older children get it quicker than younger children. Learners who begin natural exposure to second language during childhood generally acquire higher second language proficiency than those beginning as adults. That’s why teachers must be careful about mixing students of different ages and interests in the same class, because it can represent a huge problem. The class must be homogeneous, to be successful. Motivation is other important aspect because it is related to fundamental human needs for autonomy and competence. It is related to learners will, to their nature. But it is true that teachers can help them to find out their best. This is obvious that the teachers must provide learners with motivated activities. According to Deci and Ryan (1.985) motivated activities are those that the learners connect in because of their value, interest and challenge. These activities are the best possible chance for learning. Emotions are very important because it can directly block or help in the learning of a Second Language, that’s what Krashen´s theory suggest. Intelligence is exciting as an aspect of Second Language Acquisition because it depends on each learner situation – social, economic and cultural background. That’s so exciting to teachers to look for information about this background. That’s the best way to know each learner, his difficulties and facilities, in order to prepare a complete lesson.

Teachers must be conscious that all those characteristics make each learner different from another, what can be a great challenge. All these personal aspects must be observed in order to understand the Second Language Acquisition as a complex process. I intend to focus in individual factors and I will try to convince you that recognizing those personal aspects can help learners to understand the Second Language Acquisition phenomena. And as they will comprehend it, they will probably be able to take part of an interesting process. And teachers will find out how to be successful just by understanding, from each learner personal aspect, exactly the way they will really learn a Second Language.

In that way we must believe the age, the motivation, the emotions and the intelligence of each one make an important issue in the study of Second Language Acquisition. One “Problem” teachers may go through is that in one class we will have many kinds of learners, what can make us to find one way to work successfully with the whole group. It is really hard to confront but certainly it is not impossible and it is exciting.

If learners and teachers are conscious about those personal aspects (age, motivation, emotions and intelligence), they will be able to understand the Second Language Acquisition in an easier way.

According to Krashen´s theory learning a new language can result in anxiety or embarrassment. These harmful emotions can make a kind of filter that chunk the learner’s skill to process words of a Second Language.

After all the studies we can conclude that this subject is so vast and can be explored in a very long essay. It is a really interesting subject. But for now, we can conclude that teachers must be able to prepare classes of a Second Language which will support understandable input using daily basis, output, interaction and meaning. Having learners with different backgrounds and inner feelings can provide exciting classes.

The motivation must lead learners to analysis the new language as an access to opportunities, just like in the Noonan’s theory. We must avoid losing face, taking advantages of the practice of the new language, communicating with native speakers and non-native speakers. And finally, grammar must symbolize a manner to get the real meaning of the new language in order to make possible to the learners to communicate in the new language.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

- http://www.sdkrashen.com/SL_Acquisition_and_Learning/index.html;
- Krashen, S. (1981), Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning;
- Krashen, S. & Terrell, T.D. (1983), The Natural Approach;
- Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum Press.

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