L.E.A.

L By Yacine Ammari

Lecture 1

Reviewing Language learning Theories: First and Second Language

Acquisition

The provided lecture is about learning a language, specifically the difference between
learning your first language (L1) and a second language (L2). There are different beliefs on
how people learn their first language. Some believe it happens naturally and is part of a
child's development, while others think it is a result of training and rewards. A third belief
is that the environment and social context play a role in the child's development of their
first language.

Regardless of the view, first language development is known to have three

characteristics:

1. It is usually completed by age 6, which is considered a crucial time

period in language learning. This is called the Critical Period Hypothesis.
2. The development is gradual and happens in similar stages for all
children.
3. Only humans have the ability to articulate and produce meaningful
sounds, making language a specific trait to our species.

So, let's say you want to learn a new language in addition to your first language.
Some people are curious to know if it's the same process as learning your first
language or if it's different.

Here's what some experts say:

1. First language: When you learn your first language, it starts right
when you're born. It's like a natural instinct.
2. Second language: When you learn a second language, you choose to
do so because you want to. It's a personal decision.
 3. Speed: Learning your first language is usually very fast, but learning
a second language can take more time and is never as quick as learning
your first language.
4. Fluency: When you learn your first language, you become very good
at it. When you learn a second language, you may not be as good as a
native speaker, but with effort, you can still become very good at it.
5. Method: You naturally learn your first language without anyone
teaching you. When you learn a second language, it can be natural or
you can have someone guide you, like a teacher. Some languages also
need specific grammar lessons to learn well.

13 facts suggested by R. Hickey

When we learn our first language, it happens naturally and without much effort. This is
called first language acquisition (FLA). We start learning it from the moment we are born,
just by listening to the people around us. No special instruction or teaching is needed.
Our first language becomes a part of us and we can use it without thinking about it.

However, when we want to learn a second language, it is a different story. This is

called second language acquisition (SLA). Learning a second language requires effort and
motivation. It is not as easy or quick as learning our first language. We need to study and
practice the language in order to become good at it. Even if we put in a lot of effort, we
may not become as good as a native speaker.

There is a special time in our lives when it is easier to learn a second language, and
that is before we reach puberty, around 12 or 13 years old. After that, it becomes harder
to learn a second language as well as our first language. This is because of changes in our
brains at that time.

The ability to learn a second language also depends on factors such as our motivation
and personality. But our first language is something we just know, without thinking about
it. This is because our first language is acquired naturally and not learned through
conscious effort.

When we learn something, like a game or a skill, we need to think about it and make
decisions. But when we use something we have acquired, like our first language, we do it
without thinking. For example, we can ride a bike without thinking about how to balance,
even if we had to learn how to ride it at first.

Everyone can learn their first language properly, without any special ability or
intelligence. We may become better at speaking our first language with a wider vocabulary
and better style, but that happens after we have learned it.
 Our first language is connected to our overall development, and we start learning it
before other things. When we learn a second language after puberty, we already have the
mental structures in place to understand it. But it may not be as easy as our first language
and we may make more mistakes.

We can never forget our first language, even if we stop using it for a long time. But if
we only speak a second language, our first language may become less active. When we
learn a second language, we may make random mistakes, but with our first language, we
made mistakes based on our level of understanding at the time.

When we learn our first language, we learn it by listening to the people around us, like
our parents, siblings, and friends. When we are young, we start with simple words and
build up our understanding as we grow. Bilinguals are people who have learned two
languages at the same time, and they can speak both languages well.

13 facts simplified

1. When you learn a second language, it is not just about how long you
spend learning it. It is also important when you start learning it.
2. Linguists believe that a person's first language is acquired naturally
without any effort, and it is stored unconsciously in the brain. However, a
second language is learned through conscious study and effort.
3. After puberty, around the age of 12 or 13, it becomes difficult to
acquire a second language to the same level as the first language. This is
because the brain changes during this time, and the ability to learn new
things decreases.
4. When learning a second language, motivation and personality play a
big role. This is not the case with first language acquisition, which is an
instinct and happens naturally without any effort.
5. When you acquire something, like your first language, you don't have
to think about it, it just happens naturally. But if you learn something, like
a rule in a game, you have to think about it to remember it.
6. Your first language is acquired without much input from your
environment, and the input doesn't have to be organized. Children make
sense of what they hear and create their own understanding of the
language.
7. First language acquisition is not dependent on intelligence or a special
talent for language. Everyone acquires their first language fully and
properly.
8. First language acquisition is connected to cognitive development, with
cognitive development happening before language acquisition. With a
 second language, you already have the necessary cognitive structures to
understand it.
9. You can't forget your first language, even if you stop speaking it for a
long time. However, if you only speak a second language, your first
language may become inactive.
10. There are different stages of first language acquisition, starting with
single words and progressing to multiple word phrases. Children make
simple generalizations about language at first, but as they hear more,
they correct themselves.
11. Children make errors when acquiring their first language, but these
errors are systematic and based on their level of understanding. When
learning a second language after puberty, mistakes are often random and
inconsistent.
12. Children acquire competence in their first language by listening to
and accepting input from those around them, including their parents,
siblings, and playmates.
13. A bilingual person is someone who has acquired two languages at the
same time in early childhood. One language may be dominant, but the
person still has a high level of competence in the other language, much
higher than someone who learned it after puberty.