second language acquisition theory (Sapienza).pdf

ppt by Professor Ciambella

1. PROF.
Le)ziaCINGANOTTO
Department Of Asian Studies
a.a. 2017-2018
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2. Previouslessons:repository
Googledrive
[email protected]

Password:sapienzainglese
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3. Second Language Acquisition

Chapter 10
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4. What is the Study of Second Language
Acquisition?
FL? SL?

SLA is the study of:

 how second languages are learned;
 how learners create a new language system with limited exposure to a
second language;
 why most second language learners do not achieve the same degree of
proficiency in a second language as they do in their native language; and
 why some learners appear to achieve native-like proficiency in more
than one language.
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5. How Do Learners Acquire a Second
Language?
 Learners acquire a second language by making use of
existing knowledge of the native language, general
learning strategies, or universal properties of language
to internalize knowledge of the second language.
 These processes serve as a means by which the
learner constructs an interlanguage (a transitional
system reflecting the learnerDs current L
2 knowledge).
 Communication strategies are employed by the
learner to make use of existing knowledge to
cope with communication difficulties.
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6. The Language Learner
 Individual differences affect L
2 acquisition. These may include: (1)
the rate of development and (2) their ultimate level of
achievement.
 Learners differ with regard to variables relating to cognitive,
affective and social aspects of a human being.
 Fixed factors such as age and language learning aptitude are
beyond external control. Variable factors such as motivation are
influenced by external factors such as social setting and by the
actual course of L
2 development.
 Cognitive style refers to the way people perceive, conceptualize,
organize and recall information.

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7. TheLanguageLearner
• IstherealimittoL2learning?
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8. TheLanguageLearner

• Cri)calperiod(FLA)/“sensi)ve”period(SLA)
• Ap)tude
• Mo)va)on(integra)ve,instrumental).
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9. Learner Strategies
Learner strategies are defined as deliberate behaviors or
actions that learners use to make language learning more
successful, self-directed and enjoyable.

 Cognitive strategies relate new concepts to prior knowledge.

 Metacognitive strategies are those which help with organizing a
personal timetable to facilitate an effective study of the L
2.

 Social strategies include looking for opportunities to converse
with native speakers.
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10. Processes of SLA
Natural Order of Strategies of Second
Language Development


Chesterfield & Chesterfield (1985) identified a natural order of
strategies in the development of a second language.

1) repetition (imitating a word or structure);
2) memorization (recalling songs, rhymes or sequences by rote);
3) formulaic expressions (words or phrases that function as units i.e. greetings);
4) verbal attention getters (language that initiates interaction);
5) answering in unison (responding with others);
6) talking to self (engaging in internal monologue);
7) elaboration (information beyond what is necessary);
8) anticipatory answers (completing anotherDs phrase or statement);
9) monitoring (self-correcting errors);
10) appeal for assistance (asking someone for help);
11) request for clarification (asking the speaker to explain or repeat); and
12) role-playing (interacting with another by taking on roles).
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11. Theories of Second Language
Acquisition


 Behaviorism
 Nativism
 Cognitive approach
Interactionist approach
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12. KrashenDs Five Hypotheses for
Second Language Acquisition
The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis claims that we have two
independent ways of developing language ability:

– Language Acquisition is a subconscious process. It occurs very naturally in a non-threatening
environment. The research strongly supports the view that both children and adults can
subconsciously acquire languages.
– Language Learning is what occurs at school in an academic setting. It is a conscious process.
When we talk about rules and grammar of language, we are usually talking about learning.
The Natural Order Hypothesis claims that we acquire parts of a language
in a predictable order. Some grammatical items tend to come earlier in
the acquisition than others. For example, the –ing progressive is acquired
fairly early in first language acquisition, while third person singular –s is
acquired later.
1
2
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13. KrashenDs Five Hypotheses
The Monitor Hypothesis attempts to explain how acquisition and learning
are used. Language is normally produced using our acquired linguistic
competence. Conscious learning has only one function…as the oMonitorc
or oEditor.c After we produce some language using the acquired system,
we sometimes inspect it and use our learned system to correct errors. This
can happen internally before we actually speak or write, or as a self-
correction after we produce the utterance or written text.

Comprehensible Input Hypothesis contends that more comprehensible
input results in more acquisition.
The Affective Filter Hypothesis claims that affective variables do not
impact language acquisition directly, but can prevent input from reaching
what Chomsky called the Language Acquisition Device. The LAD is the
part of the brain that is responsible for language acquisition.

5
4
3
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14. • Explicitteaching
• Implicitteaching
• Incidentallearning
“Foreignertalk”
KrashenDs Five Hypotheses
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15. Comprehensibleoutput:Swain(1/2)
• Languageacquisi)onoccursnotonlywhen
learnersareexposedtocomprehensibleinput
butalsowhentheyarepushedtoproduce
languagepreciselyandappropriately
(comprehensibleoutput).
• Learnerslearntospeakbyspeaking.
• Theyneedtobepushedtousealterna)vemeans
ofexpressionwhencommunica)onbreaksdown.

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16. Comprehensibleoutput:Swain(2/2)
• Usingtheforeignlanguageofferslearnersthe
chancetotryoutnewformsandexpressions.
• BeingpushedinperformanceshiXslearners’
aZen)onfrommeaningtoform.
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17. HumanismandCarlRogers
• Humanismemphasisestheimportanceoftheinner
worldoftheindividuallearner’sthoughts,feelings
andemo)ons.Theseareaspectsofthelearning
processthatareimportantifwearetounderstand
humanlearninginitstotality.
• Significantlearningwilltakeplacewhenthesubject
maZerisofpersonalrelevancetothelearnerad
whenitinvolvesac)vepar)cipa)onofthelearner.
• Learningwhichinvolvesfeelingsandcogni)onis
morelikelytobelas)ngandpervasive.
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18. Inputintakeoutput
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19. • Comprehendedinputmaybeanalyzedandhasthe
poten)alofbeingassimilatedthroughtheprocessof
intake.Psycholinguis)cprocessingoccursatthisstage
wherenewinforma)onmaybematchedagainst
exis)ngstoredknowledge.Thenextstage,integra)on,
involvesstorageofnewinforma)onforlateruse,
hypothesisformula)on,andconfirma)onor
reformula)onofexis)nghypotheses.Thefinalstage,
output,isan"overtmanifesta)on"oftheacquisi)on
process.Thedifferentstagesmaybeinfluencedbya
numberoffactors,suchassaliencyandfrequency,
priorknowledge,andaZen)on,aswellasbyaffec)ve
factors.
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20. CumminDs Second Language
Framework
Cummins makes a distinction between social language and
academic language.

1. Social language refers to the everyday conversational language which is supported
by the use of illustrations, realia, demonstrations, etc. (Context Embedded). Studies
show that language learners acquire social language in approximately two years.
Social language deals with the here-and-now language, therefore second language
learners tend to acquire it faster.
2. Academic language is the language of school tasks which is more abstract and
decontextualized (Context Reduced).

Some second language learners who develop fluent spoken English have difficulties in
reading and writing because they may be at different levels of proficiency while they are
moving from social language (BICS) to academic language (CALP). It takes between five
to seven years for second language learners to acquire academic language.
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21. The Role of the Native Language in
Second Language Acquisition
 The role of native language in second language acquisition has come to be known as
olanguage transfer.c
 It has been assumed that in a second language learning situation learners rely extensively
on their native language.
 According to Lado (1957) individuals tend to transfer forms and meanings, the
distribution of the forms and meanings of their native language and culture to the foreign
language and culture.
 This transfer is productive when the learner attempts to speak the language.

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22. The Nature of the
Interlanguage Continuum
  Cognitive theories of interlanguage claim that with the assistance of
learning strategies, learners build mental grammars of the second
language.
  Learners draw on the rules they have constructed to interpret and
produce utterances.
  LearnerDs utterances are only erroneous with reference to the target
language norms, not to the norms of their own grammars.
  The interlanguage continuum consists of a series of overlapping
grammars. Each share some rules with the previously constructed
grammar, but also contains some new or revised rules.
  A rule has the status of a hypothesis.
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23. Krashen
• Video
• hZps://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=5bHZTtEHL20
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