The Age-Factor in Second Language Acquisition. Is There a Critical Period?

Hausarbeit , 2013 , 28 Seiten , Note: 1,3

Didaktik für das Fach Englisch - Pädagogik, Sprachwissenschaft

Second language acquisition, in particular English, is nowadays more important than ever before. As a consequence, it is of great importance to improve second language education at school. In order to do this, learner factors as for instance age, motivation or aptitude have to be considered more closely.

The present research paper considers the question if second language learning can be affected by age, particularly if there is a critical period that can affect the learning success in a negative
way. The common sense that children are the most successful language learners will be examined and compared to contrary opinions. In a last step, the results will be used to draw
conclusions for second language instruction.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• First and Second Language Acquisition
  • First Language Acquisition
    • The Behaviourist Theory
    • The Innatist Theory
  • Second Language Acquisition
• The Critical Period Hypothesis
  • The Critical Period in First Language Acquisition – The Case “Genie”
  • The Critical Period Hypothesis in Second Language Acquisition
  • The Optimal or Sensitive Period
  • Younger vs. Older Learners
    • The “Younger = Better” Position
    • The “Older = Better” Position
    • “Younger = Better in the Long Run” Position
• Implication for Second Language Teaching
  • The Constructivist Classroom
  • Second Language Instruction from a CLIL-Perspective
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This research paper aims to investigate the impact of age on second language acquisition. It explores whether there is a critical period for successful language learning and examines the common belief that children are the most successful language learners. The paper further analyzes different positions on the optimal age for second language acquisition, ultimately aiming to provide insights for improving second language instruction.

• The Critical Period Hypothesis in Second Language Acquisition
• The Influence of Age on Second Language Learning Success
• The Role of Individual Factors (e.g., Motivation, Aptitude) in Language Acquisition
• Implications for Second Language Teaching Practices
• The Constructivist Classroom and Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the importance of learner-centered teaching in second language classrooms and highlights the role of age as a significant factor in language acquisition. It also introduces the research question of whether there is a perfect age for second language learning and examines the critical period hypothesis.
• First and Second Language Acquisition: This chapter provides a brief overview of first language acquisition, highlighting the Behaviourist and Innatist theories. It then introduces the concept of second language acquisition, setting the stage for the subsequent exploration of age-related factors.
• The Critical Period Hypothesis: This chapter delves into the critical period hypothesis, examining its application to both first and second language acquisition. It explores the case of "Genie," a girl who failed to acquire language due to social isolation, and discusses the concept of a sensitive period for language learning.
• Implication for Second Language Teaching: This chapter explores the implications of the research findings for second language teaching. It introduces the constructivist classroom and Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) as potential approaches to improve language instruction.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of this research paper include second language acquisition, critical period hypothesis, age-factor, language learning success, constructivist classroom, CLIL, learner-centered teaching, and individual factors in language acquisition.

• Hochschule: Universität Kassel (Anglistik)
• Veranstaltung: Englische Fachdidaktik
• Note: 1,3
• Autor: Jana Schmidt (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2013
• Seiten: 28
• Katalognummer: V300766
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656969891
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656969907
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: English, Age-Factor, Second Language Learning, EFL-classroom