Comparing and contrasting first and second language acquisition Brown, Douglas (1994) Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. New Jersey:Prentice Hall Regents (Chapter 3)

Myths about the relationship L1 and L2 acquistion H.H Stern summary: 1. Practice 2. Imitation 3. Sounds => words => sentences 4. Watch a small child’s speech development 5. Listening => speaking => reading => writing 6. L1 => no translation, so L2 no translation neither 7. Unnecessary usage of grammar

Critics Statements tend to represent –T–The view of those who felt the “L1 was considered as the foreign language teacher’s dream” –T–The view of those who were dominated by Behaviorism –A–Ausubel argued that the “rote learning practice of audiolingual drills lacked the meaningfulness necessary for sucessful L1 and L2 acquisition”

Audiolingual method World war II World war II U.S Military “Army specialized training program” or “ Army method” U.S Military “Army specialized training program” or “ Army method” Audiolingual method ( 50’s) Two theories Two theories Structural Linguistics Behaviouristic Psychology

Characteristics Dependence on mimicry, memorization of phrases, and overlearning. Dependence on mimicry, memorization of phrases, and overlearning. Structural patterns are taught using repetitive drills. Structural patterns are taught using repetitive drills. Effort to get students to produce error-free utterances. Effort to get students to produce error-free utterances. Very little use of mother tongue by teachers. Very little use of mother tongue by teachers.

Types of Comparison and Contrast L1 C1 CHILD CHILD A1 A1 ADULT ADULT (an abnormal situation!) L2 C2 CHILD CHILD A2 A2 ADULT ADULT I) C1-C2 II) C2-A2 III) C1-A2

Critical Period Biological period of life Main question Is there a critical period for second language acquisition?

Neurological considerations Main question Laterization of the brain How might neurological development affect second language success?

Two important points: 1. When does laterilazation take place? How does the laterilazation process affect language acquisition? -E-Eric Lenneberg -T-Thomas Scovel 2. What is the role of the right hemisphere in the acquisition of a second language? -O-Obler -o-others

Psychomotor Considerations  The role of psychomotor coordinator or muscular coordinator of the “speech muscles” : Accent  Muscular control => fluency  Physical advantage in phonemic control of a L2 (until 5 year-old)  Henry Kissinger effect

Cognitive considerations  Jean Piaget stages:  Sensimotor  Preoperational  Operational Adults learning a second language could profit from certain grammatical explanations  Deductive thinking that would be pointless for a child.

Affective Considerations 1.Role of egocentricity in human development. Alexander Guiora “language ego” 2. Role of attitudes in language learning 3. Peer pressure

Linguistic Considerations ► Children’s process (natural) ► Adults’ process (classroom action) ► Main question Does L1 interfere in L2 acquisition?

Issues of first language acquisition 1. Competence and performance 2. Comprehension and production 3. Nature or nurture? 4. Universals 5. Systemacity and variability 6. Language and thought 7. Imitation 8. Practice 9. Input 10. Discourse

The end