Second Language Acquisition Agenda  Class introductions and syllabus  Second Language Acquisition (SLA) quiz?!?!  What is SLA? And other definitions  Languages I know  Who is a “good” language learner? What are the characteristics needed to be a good language learner? Was/Am I a good learner? What’s the truth?  I have a twin sister.  When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress.  I can speak eight languages.  I can play three instruments: piano, flute, and guitar.  I hate eating mushrooms, bananas, and beets, but I actually like eating Kimchi. Essential Questions  What is Second Language Acquisition?  What is the difference between a “first language” (L1) and a “second/target language” (L2)?  How will knowledge of this field help me as an English teacher? What is Second Language Acquisition (SLA)?  Study of individuals and groups who are learning another language besides their native language.  How (the process) of learning that language.  L2 (Second Language)  Target language (the aim or the goal of learning). Informal vs. formal learning  Informal= “naturalistic” contexts; outside of the classroom  Formal= in classrooms Where does most of the language learning take place? The 3 BIG Questions  What exactly does the L2 learner come to know? (What do they learn at the end of the language learning context?)  How does the learner acquire (learn) this knowledge?  Why are some learners more successful than others? SLA= COMPLEX  Linguists= Characteristics of the differences and similarities in the languages they are being learned  Psychologists and psycholinguists= mental or cognitive processes  Sociolinguists=understanding the meaning of what is being said.  Social psychologists=group processes What is a second language? What is the difference?  Second Language  Foreign Language  Library Language  Auxiliary Language Definitions  Second Language- A language needed for education, employment, and other basic purposes. (Immigrants)  Foreign Language- Travel or studied at school; no immediate or practical application.  Library Language- Used for further learning through reading.  Auxiliary Language- Meant for communication between people from different countries who don’t share a similar language. (The United Nations) What is a first language?  L1, Native language, primary language, mother tongue  Acquired during early childhood  Learned in “naturalistic settings” as part of people growing up among people who speak them. Your Language Experience  List all of the languages you know.  Classify them as L1 or L2.  Further classify the L2s as “second”, “foreign”, “library”, or “auxiliary”.  How did you learn these languages? (School, “naturalistic”)  How well do you know these languages? Characteristics of a “good” language learner  What does it mean to be a “good” language learner?  What skills do good language learners need to possess?  Do you think that you are a “good” or “poor” language learner? Why or why not?  Do you think your students are “good” or “poor” language learners? Why or why not? One Minute Note  What did you learn today?  What did you not understand from today’s class?  What would you like to learn more?