English Language Teaching in its Social Context

Chapter 2Patsy M. Lightbown and Nina SpadaFACTORS AFFECTING SECONDLANGUAGE LEARNINGL L N 0 R MA L C H I L D R EN , G I V EN a normal upbringing, are successful in theA acquisition of their first language.This contrasts with our experience of second languagelearners, whose success varies greatly.Many of us believe that learners have certain characteristics which lead to more or lesssuccessful language learning. Such beliefs are usually based on anecdotal evidence, often ourown experience or that of individual people we have known. For example, many teachersare convinced that extroverted learners who interact without inhibition in their secondlanguage and find many opportunities to practise language skills will be the most successfullearners. In addition to personality characteristics, other factors generally considered to berclevant to languagc learning are intclligence, aptitude, motivation, and attitudes. Anotherimportant factor is the age at which learning begins.In this chapter, we will see whether anecdotal evidence is supported by research findings.To what extent can we predict differences in the success of second language acquisition intwo individuals if we have information about their personalities, their general and specificintellectual abilities, their motivation, or their agc?ActivityCharacteristics of the @ad language learner'It seems that some people have a much easier time of learning than others. Rate ofdevelopment varies widely among first language learners. Some children can string togetherfive-, six-, and seven-word sentences at an age when other children are just beginning to labelitems in their immediate environment. Nevertheless, all normal children eventually mastertheir first language.In second languagc learning, it has been observed countless times that, in the sameclassroom setting, some students progress rapidly through the initial stages of learning anew language while others struggle along making very slow progress. Some learners neverachieve native-hke command of a second language. Are there personal characteristics thatmake one learner more successful than another, and if so, what are they?The following is a list of some of the characteristics commonly thought to contributeto successful language learning. In your experience ~ as a second language learner and as a