ELL Misconceptions Flashcards
Young children learn second
languages quickly and easily.
Adolescents and young adults are the most
efficient. It is only in developing native-like
pronunciation that young children have the
advantage.
Students have acquired a
second language once they
can speak it.
Although students may sound fluent, they
usually acquire social English more quickly than
academic English.
All students learn a second
language in the same way
Cultural and social differences influence
the ways in which students learn a second
language.
Parents of ELLs should only
speak English at home.
Parents should provide a strong model of
correct language; it is best for them to speak
the L1 at home as L1 skills transfer to the L2.
Students must acquire oral
language before literacy.
Oral language and literacy should be developed
simultaneously. Recent research shows how oral
language supports literacy and vice versa.
Beginners must begin
producing (speaking and
writing) English right away
Some students experience a silent period in
which they are learning language but are not
immediately ready to produce it by speaking
and writing.
Socioeconomic status is
the strongest predictor of
success in second language
acquisition.
The strongest predictor of success of second
language learners is a strong foundation in the
L1 and quality teaching of the L2.
The natural process of
language acquisition can be
accelerated
Language acquisition takes time as well as
exposure in a variety of contexts. Formal
teaching does not speed up the natural
process, but the process can be hindered with
inappropriate teaching methods.
The L1 interferes with the L2;
therefore, students should not
speak the L1 in school or at
home.
Errors that reflect the structure of the L1 are a
part of the process and will usually disappear
over time.
