Second language acquisition Essay Example for Free

Second languold age acquisition EssayStudy To advance the impact of apprehension and age on second language learning. Method A personal selective information questionnaire was first provided to two classes (34) of adults take oning in the second semester of a migrant English program, all of whom had undertaken an verbal exam within their English program two weeks earlier. From this corpus of 40 questionnaire responses only 7 were selected for this study, ground on the fact that they had no knowledge of English prior to arriving and the length of time they had been living in America. heart-to-heartsThe publications chosen were all females and all were over the age of 25. Their time living in America change between 6 months and 1 year but none had learnt or been able to speak or understand English prior to their arrival in America. Data were collected using a questionnaire authentic for this purpose. The questionnaire consists of 10 items on a five-point Likert type scal e. The items reflect the oral situations the subjects were likely to encounter within their study program. Results Table 1 below provides the results of the questionnaire by subjects ordered by age and numbered 1-7.Table 1 Subject/ age Q. 1 Q. 2 Q. 3 Q. 4 Q. 5 Q. 6 Q. 7 Q. 8 Q. 9 Q. 10 Oral Exam Score 1 (25yrs) Korean 5 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 2 48/ degree Celsius 2 (27yrs) Spanish 5 5 4 2 3 3 3 3 3 1 72/100 3 (32yrs) Russian 5 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 71/100 4 (36yrs) Spanish 5 5 4 1 3 3 4 3 3 2 66/100 5 (44yrs) Russian 5 5 4 2 3 4 3 4 3 2 53/100 6 (48yrs) Russian 5 5 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 1 47/100 7 (51yrs) Spanish 5 5 4 1 4 4 3 4 4 1 47/100 Discussion This qualitative data shows that talking in mien of the class and answering teachers questions cause the most anxiety with all 7 feeling extreme anxiety in these two situations.The situation causing least anxiety for all is when they speak to their English teacher in an informal situation. Similarly, the table indicates low anxiety levels for 5 out of 7 subjects in company discussions. An interesting point to note is that anxiety levels proved lower overall when subjects were imageicipating in a one to one situation with their teacher, even under test conditions, in contrast to situations where they were performing in front of their peers. Results also show that correction by the teachers whether for grammar or pronunciation does cause anxiety, whether it be pretty of very for all subjects.Results also indicate that anxiety increased with age with the one exception of subject 1 the youngest but as anxious as the two eldest subjects. The same results are demonstrate in relation to scores received on their oral English exams, scores decreased with age and anxiety levels with the exception of subject 1. It should be noted that subject 1 is the only Asian participant, which whitethorn be a factor in her being the exception as all others were of Russian or Spanish descent. APPENDIX Questionnaire.Fill in the circles according to how anxious you feel when you speak English in the following situations. 1 not at all 2 slightly 3 moderately 4 very 5 extremely Situation Anxiety level 1. The teacher asks me a question and I have to answer in English O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 2. Having to talk or present by myself in front of the class O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 3.Taking part in a role-play in front of the class O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 4. Taking part in a group discussion in the class O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 5. When the teacher corrects my grammar O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 6. When the teacher corrects my pronunciation O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5.7. When I hark back other classmates are criticizing my English O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 8. When undertaking an oral test O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 9. Asking English teacher for advice O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5 10. sermon informally to my English teacher O O O O O 1 2 3 4 5.APPENDIX Personal Information Name _____________________________________ Age _______________ Address ____________________________________________________ ___________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Place of deport ______________________________________________ Years living in America __________ Age you arrived in America _________ Nationality _____________________ Score in tutor oral exam _________.