Stages of Second Lanugage Acquisition

Question 1

Stage 1

Answer 1

Pre-Production / Silent Period - The learner takes in new language, but does not speak it

Question 2

Stage 2

Answer 2

Early Production: The learner produces limited words and simple sentences. The emphasis is still on listening and absorbing the new language

Question 3

Stage 3

Answer 3

Speech Emergence: Speech becomes more frequent, and words and sentences are longer, but the learner still relies heavily on context clues and familiar topics

Question 4

Stage 4

Answer 4

Intermediate fluency: The learner begins to communicate in more complex sentences to verbally express thoughts and feelings.

Question 5

Stage 5

Answer 5

Advanced fluency: The learner accurately produces varied grammatical structures and vocabulary and speaks comparably to native-speaking peers.

Question 6

Characterstics of Pre-production (0-6 months)

Answer 6

Takes in language but does not speak it

Responds by pointing, gesturing, nodding, or drawing

Question 7

Meaningful prompts for preproduction

Answer 7

Show me

Circle the

where is

who has

Question 8

Characteristics of early production (6 months to 1 yr)

Answer 8

learner produces limited words and simple sentences

1-2 word phrases are common

the emphasis still on listening and absorbing language

Question 9

Meaningful prompts for Early production

Answer 9

yes/no questions
either or questions

Question 10

Characteristics of emergence (1-3 yrs)

Answer 10

leaner speaks in simple sentences

reliance on context clues and familiar topics

grammar and pronunciation errors are common

Question 11

Prompts for emergence

Answer 11

Why
how
explain

Question 12

Characteristics of Intermediate fluency (3-5 yrs)

Answer 12

learner speaks in complex sentences

expression of thoughts and feelings

accuracy in grammar and pronunciation is increased

Question 13

prompts for intermediate fluency

Answer 13

why do you think that

what would happen if

Question 14

Characteristics of advanced fluency (5-7 years)

Answer 14

learner accurately produces varied grammatical sturctures and vocabulary

comparable to same-aged native peers

Question 15

prompts for advanced fluency

Answer 15

retell
decide if

Question 16

it is important to identify a student’s current level of second language acquisition in order to

Answer 16

determine what appropriate, effective linguistic supports would benefit the student

Question 17

Critical hypothesis period

Answer 17

there is a period from early childhood to adolescence in which full native competence is possible when acquiring a language. Children learn languages better and more easily than adults.

Question 18

As students learn the new language (L2)

Answer 18

features of the first language (L1) become present. This is often both beneficial and harmful

Question 19

Interrelatedness

Answer 19

beneficial connections between two languages

Question 20

High L1 cognitive development

Answer 20

leads to better L2 acquisition, especially L2 CALP

Question 21

Skills from L1

Answer 21

transfer to L2

Question 22

The more developed the learner’s first language,

Answer 22

the better the second one will also develop. If the student has a strong foundation in L1 skills, the learning of the next language will most likely be easier. Any skills that students know from L1 in reading, writing, mathematics, and other subject areas will serve them well in second language acquisistion.

Question 23

Interference

Answer 23

negative impacts of L1 on L2

Question 24

Biggest influences from L1 on L2

Answer 24

Word order errors/syntax.
For example, in Spanish, adjectives come after sounds in sentences, while they come
before nouns in English.

Pronunciation
Spanish uses consistent letter/sound correspondence, while English uses several
different pronunciations of the same letters or combination of letters

Question 25

Learners use L1 knowledge to learn L2. This can be

Answer 25

helpful (interrelatedness) or harmful (interference)

Question 26

Current theories of second language acquisition emphasize that

Answer 26

language and thought processes are developed in unison, utilizing whatever foundation the student brings from their first lanugage.

Question 27

Differences between languages need to

Answer 27

be taught explicitly.

Question 28

English vocabulary should be taught

Answer 28

in a meaningful context.

Question 29

Children have and advantage of

Answer 29

sounding like a native speaker

Question 30

older learners may have an accent but

Answer 30

this does not make them any less capable of learning

Question 31

Older learners have the advantage of

Answer 31

applying shortcuts to their learning and drawing analogies to their first language, something that they would not have been able to do when they were younger and less informed.