[数学]Individual differences.ppt

Language Learning Theories Individual Differences among Language Learners 9.1 The Role of Age in SLA Are children and adults’ SLA processes exactly the same? No. Evidence shows that those who start to learn a L2 as children are more likely, eventually, to reach native speaker levels of pronunciation and grammatical accuracy than those who begin to learn when they are adolescents or adults. But at the beginning of the SLA process many older learners pass through the early stages of syntactic and morphological development faster than children. The younger, the better? The older, the slower? 9.1.1 Possible reasons for the effect of age on SLA The Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) Child L2 learners ‘ brains are “plastic” and flexible, which can be involved in language acquisition, and absorb new ideas and information, while older L2 learners … The differing stages of cognitive development reached by child and adult learners Child L2 learners --- cognitively less mature --- focus more on what language can DO --- uses; Adult learners --- cognitively more mature --- focus more on what language IS --- rules; Social-psychological factors Adult learners are more inhibited about using the L2 --- reluctant to practice the language --- poorer learners; Children are far less inhibited about using the language --- easier to get chances to practice their language --- better learners 9.1.2 Theoretical implications about the role of age in LSA: Different aspects of any language become understandable at different levels of cognitive development. The consciousness that language is systematic is greater in adults than in children. 9.1.3 Practical Implications for language learning and teaching Different learning and living contexts lead to different rates and ultimate levels of SLA. e.g.: USA,UK --- HK --- China The age of 8 or 9 is optimal in starting language learning. Teaching syllabuses and textbooks need to be sensitive to the age of the learners. Other suggestions? 9