Second Language Acquisition

Second Language Acquisition

1. BICS and CALPS (Cummins)

   • BICS involves the personal, social operating language of an ELL.
     • "Talking to friends outside the classroom."
   • CALP involves the formal academic operating language aspects of an ELL
     • "Reading a textbook or listening to a lecture."
   • Proficiency in one aspect does NOT mean BOTH.

2. Input Hypothesis (Krashen)

   • We all learn through one way.
     • We learn the same way we eat or see
   • We're understanding messages if it’s comprehensible.
   • Being exposed to messages and symbols, learners gradually develop comprehension of language
   • "Die Hand"

3. Universal Grammar (Chomsky)

   • All language requires innate building blocks.
     • "Verbs, nouns, adjectives."
     • "Unique features to a language."

4. L1 and L2 Acquisition

   • L1 involves the primary language learned.
   • L2 involves learning a second language while knowing a primary one.
     • L2 is better done at a young age than older. They are more likely to develop a native accent as well as get comprehensive input
     • Older L2 learners have the advantage of being able to use more resources and better control over input methods.

5. Proficiency

   • This involves competency around several categories.
     • Sociolinguistic
       • Involves knowing how to talk to people, be it if they are someone you personally are friends with, or are in powers of authority.
     • Discourse
       • Involves combining different forms of communication.
     • Strategic Competence
       • Involves knowing how to respond to someone in the event two or more parties have a breakdown in communicating.
     • Grammar
       • Involves dealing with vocabulary, word and sentence formation, spelling, and pronunciation

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