I'm reading about theories in second language acquisition, and I see that this field is nearly as controversial as first language acquisition. Several models are introduced, but the most interesting to me are the sociolinguistic models. Second language learning has a huge social component to it. I see the social environment playing a large role in the success or failure of learning a new language.
Every day I teach elementary school Japanese students in an all-English environment, and I know that this environment tends to make the students uncomfortable. Although I speak English the whole time, they are allowed to use Japanese here and there. At this age all English is maybe a little unrealistic - their vocabulary is very limited.
Schumann's conditions that he outlines for successful L2 acquisition are particularly striking because I can easily find examples of each one in my daily life. It kind of takes the thinking out of the theoretical world and puts it squarely in mine.
Every day I teach elementary school Japanese students in an all-English environment, and I know that this environment tends to make the students uncomfortable. Although I speak English the whole time, they are allowed to use Japanese here and there. At this age all English is maybe a little unrealistic - their vocabulary is very limited.
Schumann's conditions that he outlines for successful L2 acquisition are particularly striking because I can easily find examples of each one in my daily life. It kind of takes the thinking out of the theoretical world and puts it squarely in mine.
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