Adult language learning

often referred to as "second language acquisition"

Differs from child language acquisition, sometimes referred to as "first language learning"

Child (before puberty) – may acquire multiple languages natively, without deliberate effort

Adults (beginning during teenager years) must learn language through deliberate effort, the result of acquisition is imperfect

Why the link with puberty?

Critical Age Hypothesis (devised by Erik Lenneberg) - certain skills can only be acquired

naturally and effortlessly during a certain period of maturation.

Language abilities then become lateralized (located in the left hemisphere)

Problems with the Critical Age Hypothesis

Lateralization begins much earlier than puberty

Some children suffer permanent language loss after injury to left hemisphere.

Adult language learning

-is a concious, deliberate effort involving intellect

-different adults have different degrees of aptitude for it

-this aptitude is actually a combination of several talents

-ability to imitate

-general problem-solving ability (to understand grammar)

-memory

What is the best way to teach adults language?    Hypotheses and strategies

1. Contrastive hypothesis:  first-language used as key to learning the new language

Audio-lingua method (Behaviorist School) 

 Uses: stimulus and response learning, drilling grammar, repetition.  

 Criticism: students aren't prepared to use the language naturally.

2. Identity hypothesis:  ignore the difference between adult and child language acquisition

Natural method (since 1960's) immersion in target language

Criticism: most students can't naturally pick up the more complex patterns by 'osmosis'.

No single best way exists since there are different types of learners (and teachers!)

Key: student motivation, consistency, exposure to proper language form