Key issues in second language acquisition.

Key issues in second language acquisition.

1. SLA is complex but it's neither uniform nor predictable.

   • Learners can acquire a second language in different ways.

2. SLA embraces both tutored and untutored approaches

3. Sintax and morphology.

   • A must in SLA.
   • Grammatical sub-systems.
     • Interrogatives.
     • Negatives.
     • Morphemes.
     • Articles definite-indefinite.

4. Competence vs. Performance.

   • Competence.
     • Mental representation of linguistics rules which constitute the internalized grammar.
   • Performance.
     • Comprehension and production of language.

5. Acquistion vs. Learning.

   • Acquisition: Picking up a 2nd language, conscious and unconsciously
   • Learning: Conscious study.

6. Role of the first language.

   • Contrastive analysis.
   • Language transfer.
     • Similiarities vs Differences.

7. "Natural" route of development.

   • Analysis and classification of the learner's errors.
   • Longitudinal studies of L2 learners.

8. Contextual variation in language-learner language.

   • Errors.
   • Behavior.
     • Variations.
     • Situational and linguistic context.
   • Variable rules.

9. Individual learner differences.

   • Age. Aptitude. Cognition. Style. Motivation. Personality.

10. Input to trigger and activate the 'device'.

11. Learner processes.

    • Existing knowledge.
      • Cognitive strategies.
        • Universal grammar.
          • Conscious.
          • Behavioural.
          • Strategies.