1. Second Language Acquisition
Preproduction
Early Production
Speech Emergence
Intermediate Fluency
Continued Language Development
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

2. Second Language Acquisition
The process of language acquisition is lengthy. Students move through five stages while developing English language proficiency.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

3. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
Preproduction
Students observe and internalize the new language. They use gestures, pointing and nodding to communicate.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

4. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
Early Production
Students continue to acquire English and they use language patterns, yes/no responses and single words to communicate.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

5. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
Speech Emergence
Students begin to use simple sentences. At this stage they may begin to initiate discussion.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

6. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
Intermediate Fluency
Students are fairly comfortable in social language situations. They state opinions and ask for clarification.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

7. Continued Language Development
Students participate in classroom activities with additional support for comprehension, academic language and cultural information.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

8. Factors that determine progression
Prior knowledge
Cultural background
Reason for immigration
Personality
Previous schooling
Literacy in first language
Proficiency in first language
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

9. What the research says:
Research shows that children learn social language skills much sooner than the academic language skills. Although children may seem at first not to understand what is going on in the classroom, they are actually transferring concepts and language structure.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD

10. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
Silent Period
In the first months, children will go through a “silent period” where they may not produce language but will be listening and internalizing English language structure.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD