LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1

Language Acquisition

Andrea Yim

Los Angles Pacific University

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Abstract

Language development is a complex and critical process. From the day we are born
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Language is truly one of the most fascinating aspects of being a human. I've never really

focused on or paid attention to how we learn to communicate or how language develops, but as I

grow in my knowledge the realization of it all is so complex and intricate and affects every

human. “First language acquisition is remarkable for the speed with which it takes place. Long

before a child starts school, he or she has become an extremely sophisticated language user,

operating a system for self-expression and communication that no other creature, or computer,

comes close to matching.” (The Study of Language, 2016) I can’t really remember any specific

time where I started speaking but I can say that I grew up in a home that language could have

been and perhaps was a bit confusing. My mom is from Mexico and her first language was

spanish. She spoke english in our home, and her english was good, but she does have a heavy

accent. So words like sheep sounded like “cheap.” I can remember my friends making fun of

the way I said the word “because” I would pronounce it “P-Cause.” I think that is because of my

mothers accent rubbing off on me. I grew up in a more low income area where education wasn’t

necessarily a priority and in fact to this day it’s number two for worse education in the nation.

Most people where I'm from don’t really have the greatest proper english because there is a lot of

spanish mixed in or street language. My mom was a single mom for a while, so reading a book

to me at night was non existent. She was basically in survival mode so as she worked two jobs, I

was left with my spanish speaking grandparents to do my homework mostly on my own. I spoke

at an early age and with an older brother in the house I quickly became bossy telling him to “eat

your food or I'll eat it.” haha So I can say that I was brought up in a wonderful loving

environment, but with two different languages and poor education, speaking properly wasn’t in

my future, so I thought.
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As I grew older and went to Bible College, I was exposed to a whole new world.

Leaving Albuquerque, NM and coming to California, I came in contact with many new people

from all over the Country. I met my husband there and he came from a wealthier, well educated

family. I learned a lot! My husband actually carried around a pocket dictionary, no joke, and any

time he wanted to know the definition of a word or came in contact with an unfamiliar word he

would get out his pocket dictionary and look it up. My sister in law would correct my grammar

or a word I would say improperly and it was then that I realized I had so much to learn. I

currently look at language as an ongoing art form. At this point in my life I am striving to have a

better understanding of language and speech and communication. I don’t blame anyone for my

lack of language knowledge because I know the people I was surrounded with were the very best

they could be,however as I have my own children now I desire for them to be well informed of

they way they speak and what they say so my past experiences are only making me a better

person. I have read every single night to my children. I homeschooled them giving them the very

best education and now they are both in a private christian school ensuring them that everything

they have learned and continue to learn will set them up for success in the future. For me now as

I pursue my education I do feel as though my language acquisition is not as polished as many

others for example my classmates in our discussions. Some of my classmates speak so

eloquently and can communicate a subject matter so well that I get intimidated when I respond,

but it forces me and encourages me to keep learning. Just like it’s never too late to learn a

second language, it’s never too late to increase my vocabulary and that’s exactly what I have

been striving to do now in my education as I desire to be a Teacher and give my students the

very best education possible.

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Early Literacy will affect a person in the future because it really depends on what

you have learned as a child and how properly you carry your speech. Like I said as an

adult now I get intimidated when having to share with other very polished people. It can

make someone not want to engage in goals or desires that they have because their

language is not what they think it should be. I also believe that because I didn't grow up

having all the resources I needed as a kid to succeed that I want to give that to my own

kids. It’s caused me to be purposeful in teaching my children how to speak well and I’m

constantly correcting their grammar. As a teacher I have done that with my students too,

emphasizing the importance of language and sounds and literacy.

Some of the theories to language acquisition include the first five years,

behaviourist, biological approach, nature and nurture and second language acquisition are

all fundamental for us as humans because it can be the deciding factor of our future

success. “Language acquisition allows for cultural understanding, not simply by just

allowing for a greater flow of ideas and ease of communication, but also for

understanding the cultural mindset.”( Odyssey, 2016) I have taken two worlds or learning

from everyone and every culture and have used my experiences to grow and also be

compassionate. It has caused me to pay attention to my students and my own children.

All of the five different language acquisitions have played a part in my past and are

playing a part in my current life now. Take this class opportunity for example. Reading

and researching have caused me to take a step closer into examining the way we speak

and the sounds we make. As far as a second language goes, I am not fluent in speaking

spanish,but I have gathered enough spanish speaking skills from my family that I can

carry a conversation with s person who only speaks spanish. Setting a strong foundation
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for babies until they are about seven is so crucial and important in order for children to be

great readers and great communicators. A persons feelings can be confident or they can

become intimidated.

References:

The Importance Of Language Acquisition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistics