1.introduction

The process of SLA
Three basic questions: Q1: What exactly does the L2 learner come to know? Q2: How does the learner acquire this knowledge? Q3: Why are some learners more successful than others?
Second v. foreign language acquisition
• Different settings: SLA: where the language plays an institutional and social role in the community. eg: Immigrant, English as an L2 learnt in the U.S., the U.K. FLA: where the language plays no major role in the community and is learnt only in the classroom. Eg: English learnt in China
SLA
Psychology
Sociology
group-related phenomena such as identity and social motivation and the interactional and social contexts of learning
Structure of the textbook • Part One (chpt 1-2): A brief introduction to SLA • Part Two (chpt3-5): SLA research findings (introduced from three perspectives) • Part Three (chpt 6-7): integration of research findings
What is SLA? Definition Explanation of some terms The process of SLA
Definition
Broadly speaking, SLA concerns with any phenomena involved in learning an L2. In detail, SLA refers both to the study of individuals and groups who are learning a language subsequent to learning their first one as young children, and to the process of learning that language.
Chapter 1 A Brief Introduction of Second Language Acquisition
Why studying SLA? What is SLA? How to study SLA?
The requirements of this course
1. Preview 2. Attendance 3. Take notes
• Lay the foundation for your further
academic research • Be curious about SLA phenomenon Q1: How do people manage to learn an L2? Q2: What changes there will be after a person learns an L2? Q3 …
How to study SLA?
Option 1: discussion of different topics in SLA learner errors & error analysis; linguistic universals & SLA; developmental patterns; variability in learner language; social factors & SLA; input and interaction; language transfer, individual learner differences; learning strategies; classroom interaction & SLA; formal instruction & SLA; cognitive accounts of SLA
Discussion
• Do you think that you are a “good” or “poor” L2 learner? Why do you think so? Consider whether you believe that your own relative level of success as a language learner is due primarily to linguistic, psychological, or social factors?
Baidu Nhomakorabea
How to study SLA?
• Option 2: interdisciplinary perspective of studying SLA taken in the textbook linguistic perspective psychological perspective sociological perspective
Why studying SLA? • Reflect on your own experiences of
second language learning • Reinforce some convictions/beliefs in second language learning • Ground you in English teaching • Help you prepare for Entrance Examination for postgraduate schools (英 语教学法方向 TESOL）
Second v. foreign language acquisition
• Different input SLA: input in the forms of sound, prints and ads, etc. FLA: input from textbooks, lectures, etc. • Different output SLA: more colloquial, idiomatic, FLA: more formal
Naturalistic v. instructed second language acquisition
• Naturalistic SLA: learning the L2 through communication that takes place in naturally occurring social situations; • Instructed SLA: learning the L2 through study, with the help of ‘guidance’ from reference books or classroom instruction
Linguistics
Comparison between languages; linguistic competence & performance of learners at various levels Mental/cognitive process; representation of language in the brain
Competence v. performance
• Chomsky (1965) Linguistic Competence: underlying knowledge of language; invisible but relatively stable Linguistic Performance: the use of language knowledge in actual production; concrete but changeable
The process of SLA
The search for answers to the three questions is of great significance to SLA, to related fields and to practical L2 learning and teaching.
First language
• First language —acquired during early childhood (normally before 3) —learned as part of growing up (maturation) among people who speak them. • Synonyms: native language; mother tongue, primary language
Acquisition
• Krashen (1981) distinguishes between ‘acquisition’ and ‘learning’ ‘acquisition’: subconscious process of ‘picking up’ a language through exposure ‘learning’: conscious process of studying a language When not placed inside inverted commas, they are often used interchangeably.
Explanation of some terms
• • • • First language Acquisition Second v. foreign language acquisition Naturalistic v. instructed second language acquisition • Competence v. performance
Definition
In talking about SLA, ANY additional language is a second language (L2) Examples: Chinese students learning English /French... Korean/American students learning Chinese Q: What about Cantonese/Hakka speakers learning Mandarin Chinese?