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Reflective Essay

The document discusses the process of second language acquisition and some of the complexities that can impede it. It notes that acquisition is the spontaneous internalization of language rules through natural usage, while learning involves formal study. Some social complexities that can interfere with acquisition include the student-teacher relationship and lack of comprehensible input. Personal complexities like anxiety over making mistakes can also hamper performance and acquisition. For students to successfully acquire a second language, teachers must help them overcome both social and personal complexities.

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573 views4 pages

Reflective Essay

The document discusses the process of second language acquisition and some of the complexities that can impede it. It notes that acquisition is the spontaneous internalization of language rules through natural usage, while learning involves formal study. Some social complexities that can interfere with acquisition include the student-teacher relationship and lack of comprehensible input. Personal complexities like anxiety over making mistakes can also hamper performance and acquisition. For students to successfully acquire a second language, teachers must help them overcome both social and personal complexities.

Uploaded by

vikneswaran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

0 Introduction

The process by which a person learns a language is sometimes called acquisition


instead of learning, because some linguists believe that the development of a first
language in a child is a special process (Richards, 1985, p.3). According to Ellis (2016)
acquisition can be broadly defined as the internalization of rules and formulas which
are then used to communicate in L2”. This means that it is the spontaneous process
of rule internalization that result from natural language used while learning consists of
the development of conscious L2 knowledge through formal study. However , social
and personal complexity usually impede the second language acquisition to occur.
Therefore, it is important for a teacher to reflect back on the complexities which are
faced by the students to overcome it and eventually make the acquisition of the
language a success.

2.0 Social Complexity

Social complexity that often student face while acquiring the second will be the
relationship between teachers and student. Teacher and student relationship plays an
important role in acquiring the language. In this case teacher plays a vital role in
scaffolding the students in acquiring the language. A good term of relationship
between the teacher and student will help in the process of acquisition because
students will be able to understand when they have received enough input. Based on
my experience, teacher who does not use various type of strategies does not give
enough input for the language to become comprehensible. Therefore one of the
theory that can be applied by the teacher is the input hypothesis. For instance, when
the teacher repeats the vocabulary it will increase the understanding of the meaning.
It can be applied using games where students place the written vocabulary on the
corresponding pictures or playing board games such as scrabble, boggle or hangman.
This is a great way to help the students to acquire second language because “human
acquires language in only one which is by understanding the messages or by
receiving comprehensible input” (Krashen 1985).

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3.0 Personal Complexity

Besides that, one of the reason why second language acquisition seems to be difficult
is because of the anxiety level that commonly found in the learners. During my school
days, I encountered some situations where I become afraid to use the second
language which is English in the classroom. This is mainly because the fear that I may
make a mistake. In certain cases, high anxiety level has hampered my performance
level while using the language. Therefore, it is important for the students to overcome
their anxiety level and be highly confident while using the language. Based on theory
of affective filter hypothesis, Krashen states (1982) that students with “high
confidence in themselves can perform well in their foreign language learning”, and are
usually less inhibited, which in turn prevent their confidence from being threatened by
mistakes. For the purpose of maintaining students’ self-confidence, teachers should
hold a positive and receptive attitude not only to students, but to the mistakes
students make during their second language learning.

4.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important for the students to overcome both social and personal
complexity to allow the acquisition of the second language to happen. Teachers and
parents play and important role to help the students to overcome it to bring out the
best from each student.

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References

Ellis, R. (2016). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Shanghai: Shanghai


Foreign Language Education Press. Retrieved on 10th March 2019 from
https://doi.org/10.1017/S027226311600005X

Krashen, S. (1982). Newmark's "Ignorance Hypothesis" and current second language


acquisition theory. Unpublished manuscript

Krashen, S. (1985). The Input Hypothesis: Issues and Implications. Harlow: Longman.

3
Richards. J, Platt. J, & Weber. H. (1985). Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics.
England: Longman

Spada, N. & Lightbown, P. M. (2010). ‘Second Language Acquisition’, in Schmitt, N.


(ed.) An Introduction to Applied Linguistics (2nd ed.). Abingdon: Routledge.

Usman Kasim. (2010). Second Language Acquisition (Course Reading Materials for
SLA Class). Banda Aceh: Syiah Kuala University

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