Factors that influence the acquiring to L2

1. L2 LEARNING AND TEACHING
By: Diana Priscila Montesdeoca Benitez

2. WHY ARE SOME LEARNERS MORE
SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS?
Factors:
Social context
Social
experience
Relationship of
L1 and L2
Age
Aptitude
Motivation
Instruction

3. SOCIAL CONTEXT
Macrosocial factors that influence L2 learning:
 Status of L1 and L2
 Boundary and identity factors within and
between L1 and L2 speech communities.
 Institutional forces and constrains.
These factors impact on the learner attitude
and opportunity, also help to determine how the
language is learned (as 2nd language, foreign
language, etc.)

4. SOCIAL EXPERIENCE
 Determine the quantity and quality of L2 input and
interaction, which influence the ultimate success in
L2 learning
 There is very Little experimental evidence to
support this because it is complex to control social
variables.

5. RELATIONSHIP OF L1 AND L2
 Not all L2s are equally easy to acquire for speakers
of particular L1s.
 Relationships of L1 and L2 will yield differential
possibilities for positive transfer of parameter
settings.

6. AGE
 Younger learners have brain plasticity, fewer
inhibitions, weaker group identity, and more years
to practice.
 Older learners have an advantage in learning
capacity, in analytic ability, in pragmatic skills, in
greater L1 knowledge, and in real-world knowledge.
 It is possible for older learners to achieve
nearnative competence in a L2, but less likely.

7. APTITUDE
 Important predictor of differential success in L2
learning.
 It is not completely deterministic.

8. MOTIVATION
 Determines the level of effort which learners
expend at various stages in their L2 development.
 Is a key to ultimate level of proficiency.

9. INSTRUCTION
 Its quality makes a difference in formal contexts of
L2 learning.
 There isn’t a best method that Will fit everything, a
combination of different methods is the wisest
approach.

10. REFERENCE
 Muriel Saville – Troike, “Introducing Second
Language Acquisition”, Cambridge