Variety of intelligence test (‘IQ’) tests IQ scores= good means of predicting
FACTORS
AFFECTING SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING Background:
Learners are believed to have certain characteristics that lead to more or less successful language learning.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:INTELLIGENCE
one or more capacities of the mind. In
different contexts this can be defined in
different ways, including the capacities for
abstract thought, understanding,
communication, reasoning, learning, planning,
emotional intelligence and problem solving.SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:INTELLIGENCE
Over the years:
Variety of intelligence test (‘IQ’) tests IQ scores= good
means of predicting- how successful Variety methods of a learner would be assessing language learning
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS: INTELLIGENCE
Findings:
Such tests are strongly related to certain kinds of second language abilities (language analysis and rule learning, e.g. Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary) than to others (oral productive skills).
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:APTITUDE
specific ability a learner has for learning a second language (Ellis, 1985).
The main feature of Attitude: Learning quickly
Test to predict whether individuals will be an efficient learners of a foreign language
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:APTITUDE
Types of abilities in Aptitude based on the Aptitude Tests: 1.
The ability to identify and memorize new sounds.
2. The ability to understand the function of
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:APTITUDE
Findings: a substantial relationship between performance on the tests and performance on foreign language learning.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:APTITUDE
Aptitude is irrelevant to the process of language acquisition.
Other findings :
- Successful Language learners may not be strong in all of the components of
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:APTITUDE
Good point of knowing aptitude:
to determine learners’ strength and weakness.
To place learners in appropriate teaching program.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
A number of personality characteristics affect second language learning.
But.. It is not easy to demonstrate the effect of individual personality on second language
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:PERSONALITY
Example:
An extroverted learner is argued to be well suited to language learning.
Some studies revealed that success in language learning is correlated with scores on the characteristics of extroversion such
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:PERSONALITY
Research findings on personality and language
learning.- personality variables may be a major factor only in the acquisition of conversational skills, not in the acquisition of literacy skills.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Motivation and Attitude Motivation: latin: movere (to move)
=something that drives us to do something to achieve our goal, which stimulates and directs our action (Pintrich, 1996:4).
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Motivation comes up from 3 levels: Global: overall orientation of the learner
towards the learning of foreign language.
Situational: has something to do with the
context of learning (classroom, total
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Motivation (Robert Gardner and Walace Lambert, 1972) : Integrative motivation: language learning for personal growth and cultural enrichment.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Attitude: mental and neutral state
influenced by beliefs, feelings, and experience which exert a directive or dynamic influence to respond in a particular way toward the related subject (Alport, 1935 and Gardner,1985).
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Motivation in second language learning + a complex phenomenon which may be defined in terms of 2 factors: 1.
Communicative needs 2. Attitudes towards the second language
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE
LEARNERS:MOTIVATIONResearch finding: positive attitudes and motivation are related to success in second language learning (Gardner, 1985).
Weakness: the research can not indicate
MOTIVATION IN THE CLASSROOM
Motivated students: Participate actively, express interest in the subject matter, and study a great deal.
Positive contribution that a teacher can makes to motivate students to learn: creating an enjoyable classroom, the
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:MOTIVATION
Some other ideas in pedagogical practices to enhance students’ motivation:
Motivating students into the lesson
Varying the activities, tasks, and materials
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:LEARNER PREFERENCE
A learner has preference for how they go about learning new material.
Learning style: individual’s natural, habitual, and preferred way of absorbing, processing, and retaining new information and skills.
QUESTIONS
Which skill(s) and aspects do you think the most essential for learning English? (listening, speaking, reading, speaking, grammar, writing, and vocabulary)
Is it important to speak a native-like English?
QUESTIONS
Is it okay to guess if we don't know a word in English?
Is it important to repeat and practice a lot?
If beginning students are allowed to make
QUESTIONS
Do you think that the teacher have to take all of the responsibilities such as to determine learning goals, make decisions about materials, decide how to learn, monitor and evaluate his/her learning progress?
QUESTIONS Which skill(s) and aspects do you think the most essential for learning English? (listening, speaking, reading, speaking, grammar, writing, and vocabulary)
Grammar and Speaking Is it important to speak a native-like English?
QUESTIONS Is it okay to guess if we don't know a word in English?
It’s okay Is it important to repeat and practice a lot? Yes, of course
If beginning students are allowed to make
QUESTIONS
Do you think that the teacher have to take all of the responsibilities such as to determine learning goals, make decisions about materials, decide how to learn, monitor and evaluate his/her learning progress?
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:LEARNER BELIEFS
Belief system in general is the information, attitudes, values, expectations, theories, and assumptions about teaching and learning that teachers build up over time and bring with them to the classroom (Richards, 1989: 66).
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:LEARNER BELIEFS sources of students’ beliefs: from their experiences as language learners
(Gaoyin & Alvermann 1995).
from their family/home background (Dias
2001) from their cultural background (Alexander & Dochy 1995).
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:LEARNER BELIEFS a . Students’ beliefs about English.
Students, like teachers, hold their own
beliefs about English. They may have their
own perception about the nature of English
and about the most essential skills
(listening, speaking, reading and speaking)
b. Students’ beliefs about teaching (teachers)
Students have had to deal with various teachers
and teaching methods during their learning English.
Therefore, they may have in mind what kind of
teacher and/or teaching method is effective and
ineffective. This idea of an effective teaching is
strongly shaped, especially when they have
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS:LEARNER BELIEFS
c. Students’ beliefs about language learning.
Students also bring to the classroom very
specific assumptions about how to learn a
language and about the kinds of activities
and approaches they believe to be useful