This paper gives a basic overview on the subject of English learning of multilingual children. The author begins with the general development of multilingual children, especially concerning their cognitive advantages that have been gained through language acquisition. After that, the paper focuses on the comparison of third language acquisition and second language acquisition. In this chapter the author also provides a study done by various scholars that compares monolingual children to bilingual children that has to be critically reflected. The following section concentrates with the factors influencing learning English in different contexts.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Development of multilingual children
- 2.1 Cognitive advantages
- 3. TLA compared to SLA
- 3.1 Study concerning monolinguals compared to bilinguals
- 4. Cross-linguistic influence in TLA
- 4.1 Overview
- 4.2 Language Distance and Recency of Use
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the acquisition of English in multilingual children, exploring its unique aspects within the broader context of language learning.
- The cognitive advantages of multilingualism and its impact on language acquisition
- The comparison of third language acquisition (TLA) to second language acquisition (SLA)
- The influence of cross-linguistic factors on TLA, particularly language distance and recency of use
- The challenges and opportunities of multilingualism in education and society
- The evolving role of English as a global language and its implications for multilingual learners
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: This chapter introduces the topic of teaching English in multilingual children, highlighting the increasing importance of multilingualism in education and the complexities of TLA compared to SLA.
- Chapter 2: This chapter delves into the cognitive advantages of multilingualism, examining how exposure to multiple languages can enhance cognitive flexibility, metalinguistic awareness, and communication skills.
- Chapter 3: This chapter compares TLA to SLA, analyzing the differences in acquisition processes and the factors that influence a learner's success in acquiring a third language.
- Chapter 4: This chapter explores the impact of cross-linguistic influence on TLA, with a focus on the role of language distance and recency of use in shaping language learning outcomes.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts in this paper include multilingualism, third language acquisition, second language acquisition, cognitive advantages, cross-linguistic influence, language distance, recency of use, and the role of English as a global language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cognitive advantages of multilingualism in children?
Multilingual children often show enhanced cognitive flexibility, better metalinguistic awareness, and improved communication skills compared to monolinguals.
What is the difference between SLA and TLA?
SLA (Second Language Acquisition) involves learning a second language, while TLA (Third Language Acquisition) is the process of learning an additional language, which is influenced by the knowledge of both the first and second languages.
How does "Language Distance" affect learning English?
Language distance refers to how similar or different languages are. A smaller distance between a previously known language and English can facilitate the learning process through cross-linguistic influence.
What role does "Recency of Use" play in language acquisition?
Recency of use suggests that the language a child has used most recently is more likely to influence the acquisition of a new language like English.
Why is critical reflection necessary when comparing monolingual and bilingual children?
Studies comparing these groups must be reflected critically because various contextual factors, such as socio-economic status and the environment of acquisition, can influence the results.
- Citation du texte
- Romana Pfurtscheller (Auteur), 2018, Teaching Multilingual Children, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/938393
