The learning of a second language certainly requires a slew of factors to take into consideration while studying SLA. This was proven to me throughout the duration of this course and was supported by the information provided. Because of the authors and the extensive research that has been done in regards to SLA, I was able to learn an extensive amount about what all it takes to learn a second or additional language. While there are many topics that the authors of the textbooks discuss, the ones that stood out to me the most were the ones that I chose to write about in my argumentative essay. These included motivation, the influence of L1 in learning a second language, and the effect of age on SLA. My understanding of the learning of a second language is that “It studies a wide variety of complex influences and phenomena that contribute to the puzzling range of possible outcomes when learning an additional language in a variety of contexts” (Ortega, 2013). This statement from Ortega co...
For my interview I had the pleasure of speaking to my mentor teacher, Amy Baxter. When we spoke, Mrs. Baxter had much to say about her experiences with ESL students. By listening to her speak about their desire and motivation to learn, the obstacles they face, and the methods she uses in her classroom to facilitate their learning—it was clear to see how much Mrs. Baxter enjoys teaching her ESL students. During our discussion, Mrs. Baxter spoke about how one of the things she enjoys most about teaching ESL students is their strong desire to learn. Motivation plays a huge role in learning a second language, and Susan Gass covers that in her text. She states: “A social-psychological factor frequently used to account for differential success in learning a second language is motivation. This has an intuitive appeal. It makes sense that individuals who are motivated will learn another language faster and to a greater degree” (Gass, 2013). Although there are times when students struggle wi...