Individual Differences

in L2 Aqusition
Tayseer ElZeiny
Course Instructor: Dr. Rasha Sengar
Table of Contents
● Introduction ● Conclusion / Recap
● Language Aptitude:
○ Definition
○ Types
● Motivation:
○ Definition
○ Types
● Learning Strategies:
○ Definition
○ Types
Introduction ● What is the next step?

● Looking into the different factors of language and its

relationship to the process of learning

● Looking into the Internal factors of language learning

with respect to the learner

● Psychological Dimensions
 01
Language
Aptitude
 What does Language
‘Aptitude’ mean?

● Aptitude: A natural ability to do something (Oxford Languages Dictionary)

● Language Aptitude : A natural ability to learn, understand, and produce L2

● Here, we’re concerned with the cognitive abilities that underlie successful L2

acquisition
John Carroll : Components of Language Aptitiude

C. Inductive Language Learning

A. Phonemic Coding Ability
Ability to identify sounds of
a foreign language. Sound-
symbol relationships.
ability
Ability to identify patterns of
correspondence and relations
between form and meaning.
Observation= conclusions

B. Grammatical sensitivity D. Rote Learning ability

Ability to recognize the Ability to form and remember
grammatical functions of associations between stimuli.
words in a sentence. Memorization by repetition.

Rote =mechanical or habitual

repetition of something to be
learned. ( Oxford languages
Dictionary)
 Is there a relationship between
What language aptitude and success in
do you L2 learning?
think?
 Yes! There is a strong
relationship between
successful performance
in L2 and language
aptitude
 02

Motivation
Different types of motivation:

A. Instrumental Motivation C. Resultative Motivation

Learning L2 for some Motivation as a result of
functional reason successful learning

B. Integrative Motivation D. Intrinsic Motivation

Interest in people and Finding language tasks to be
culture of L2 intrinsically motivating in and of
themselves
 These four types of motivation
are complementary to each other

p ort an t rather than oppositional

Im
note :
 03
Learning
Strategies
 The particular

What is a learning approaches/

techniques that
learners employ to

strategy? learn an L2

Efforts by learners
to enhance their
language learning
experience
Characteristics of • Goal-directed
• Problem-oriented
learning strategies • Involve choice on
the part of the
learner
• Conscious
process
Different types of learning strategies:

A. Cognitive Strategies
C. Social/ Affective Strategies
(Intellectual)
Strategies involved in the The way that learners choose
analysis, synthesis, or to interact with other
transformation of learning speakers.
materials.
B. Metacognitive Strategies
Strategies concerned with
planning, monitoring , and
evaluating one’s own
learning.

Knowing what learning is

and How to do it better
How do we find out which strategies are important
for L2 Acquisition?

• Investigate how ‘good language learners’ try to learn.

• Observe what strategies they’re using

What is a ‘ good language learner ’ ?
• Pays attention to form and meaning
• Active learner – Independent (they use strategies for taking charge of their
own learning)
• Is aware of the learning process AND their own PERSONAL learning style.
• Is flexible
• Appropriate in their use of learning strategies

• Successful learners use

MORE learning strategies.

• Successful learners also

use different strategies for
different aspects of
language.
Why is the study of learning strategies of
potential value to language teachers?
With basic knowledge of learners’ preferred learning strategies you can:

Instruct better Help students find a

learning strategy that works
best for them and teach
them how to use it

Personalize the
process of Supplement
language learning material better
(Differentiated
instruction)
 04
Conclusion/
Recap
 Aptitude Motivation Strategies
• Natural Ability
• Related to • Instrumental • Approaches
general • Integrative and techniques
intelligence/ • Resultative • Cognitive
competence • Intrinsic • Metacognitive
• Phonemic • Social/affective
• Grammatical
• Inductive
• Rote learning
References
● Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries | Find definitions, translations, and grammar explanations at Oxford Learner’s

Dictionaries. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

● Ellis, R., & Widdowson, H. G. (1997). Second Language Acquisition (Oxford Introduction to Language Study

Series) (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-4N7OxSMok
 Thanks!

Any questions?

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