B.+L1+vs.+L2

=First Language vs. Second Language Acquisition=



Overview:
The graphic organizer posted below demonstrates a quick look at the differences between acquiring first and second languages. Below the organizer, you can find great resources for more information on language acquisition.


 * **First Language (L1) Acquisition** ||
 * **Factor** || **Questions to Address** ||
 * **Age:** When does language acquisition begin and how does it progress? ||  Researchers have identified **__five__** major stages of first language acquisition.

· **6-8 months**: humans go through a babbling stage, during which time they learn to use sounds to express displeasure, comfort themselves, participate in vocal play, and practice speech-like gestures. · **9-18 months**: humans begin the one-word (or holophrastic) stage, in which they begin using one word phrases to express thoughts and feelings. · **18-24 months**: humans enter the “two word” stage, in which they begin to create short sentences with more complex semantic meaning than previously. During this stage, children experiment with syntax and the systematicity of language. · **24-30 months**: humans enter the “telegraphic” or “early multi-word” stage, during which time children begin experimenting with lexical variation as well as syntactical variation. · **30 months+**: humans enter the “later multiword” stage where they continue to develop more complicated language structures, considering all aspects of language (i.e. morphology, phonology, syntax, etc)   ||
 * **Sound System:** How do young children learn the L1 sound system and the rules of the native language? || Children predominantly acquire the sound system of their native language through imitation, pattern recognition, and trial and error. As children progress through the stages listed above, they discover the rules of the sound system through the success of their communication with others. ||
 * **Learning Environment:** Where does L1 take place and under what conditions and circumstances does early language learning occur? || L1 acquisition generally occurs in the home amongst friends and family who serve as models of language and sources of feedback to correct for errors as children learn. ||
 * **Second Language (L2) Acquisition** ||
 * **Factor** || **Questions to Address** ||
 * **Age:** When does second language acquisition begin and how does it progress? ||  Researchers also list **__five__** stages of second language acquisition: pre-production, early production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency, and advanced fluency.
 * **Factor** || **Questions to Address** ||
 * **Age:** When does second language acquisition begin and how does it progress? ||  Researchers also list **__five__** stages of second language acquisition: pre-production, early production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency, and advanced fluency.

· **Pre-production** occurs in the first 6 months of encountering a new language, and is also known as the “silent period.” During this time, a student might nod and point but does not produce speech. · **Early production** occurs between 6-12 months. During this time, students have limited comprehension and tend to rely on short key words and phrases. In my opinion, this stage is very similar to the “two word” stage for first language acquisition. · **Speech emergence** occurs within 1-3 years of studying a second language. During this time, students begin to develop their comprehension skills and can produce simple sentences but still make grammatical errors and misunderstand jokes. · **Intermediate fluency stage** occurs between 3-5 years. During this time, students develop excellent comprehension and learn to make fewer and fewer grammatical errors in speech and writing. - Finally, a student is considered to be in the **advanced fluency** stage between 5-7 years, during which time they have reached a near-native level of speech. || **__Fossilization__** refers to habits and/or rules developed within an interlanguage that are never corrected for. These habits become permanently fossilized in a student’s use of their L2 and make it incredibly difficult to re-teach. It is more typical among adult second language learners, but may occur at any age. ||
 * **Sound System:** How do second language learners learn the sound system and rules of the second language? || Students generally learn the L2 sound systems in a structured classroom environment via direct instruction and practice. Students may learn the sounds by comparing them to the sounds of their L1, if the languages are similar. Or, they may learn them through rigorous practice with consistent teacher feedback. ||
 * **Learning Environment:** Where does early L2 language acquisition take place and under what type of conditions? || L2 acquisition typically occurs within a classroom setting in which there is a great deal of pressure to perform. Instead of learning from the modeling and feedback of friends and family, students learn from a teacher who likely teaches using the target language. ||
 * **Related Factors:** What is interlanguage and fossilization and how do these things impact SLA? || **__Interlanguage__** is a phenomenon that occurs as a child begins to acquire an L2. The rules of a person’s L1 and L2 comingle, resulting in a hybrid language for a time period. This is a typical and necessary stage of the learning process.
 * **Learning Environment:** Where does early L2 language acquisition take place and under what type of conditions? || L2 acquisition typically occurs within a classroom setting in which there is a great deal of pressure to perform. Instead of learning from the modeling and feedback of friends and family, students learn from a teacher who likely teaches using the target language. ||
 * **Related Factors:** What is interlanguage and fossilization and how do these things impact SLA? || **__Interlanguage__** is a phenomenon that occurs as a child begins to acquire an L2. The rules of a person’s L1 and L2 comingle, resulting in a hybrid language for a time period. This is a typical and necessary stage of the learning process.
 * **Related Factors:** What is interlanguage and fossilization and how do these things impact SLA? || **__Interlanguage__** is a phenomenon that occurs as a child begins to acquire an L2. The rules of a person’s L1 and L2 comingle, resulting in a hybrid language for a time period. This is a typical and necessary stage of the learning process.

**Resources:**
 * Stages of First Language Acquisition
 * Stages of Second Language Acquisition(excerpt from book by Jane D. Hill and Cynthia L. Björk)
 * Language Development in Children
 * Language Acquisition: An Overview
 * Stages of Second Language Acquisition (everythingesl.net)


 * Contact: melissa.stugart@mnps.org**