How Authors in Foreign Language and Literature Discipline Research, Compile, and Publish, Information

Foreign language classes are often put off until high school due to the fact that this is when people believe students are most ready to learn another language. This belief is widely accepted despite the fact children are able to learn to speak like natives in foreign languages, whereas teenagers and adults usually are not able to learn how to do this. Speaking “like a native” entails being able to think in a foreign language without having to translate (Nadia 1). The ability to speak like a native in a foreign language can be easier to obtain when taught the foreign language during elementary school. Once a student passes the prime learning stages, learning a foreign language can be extremely difficult. Adults starting to learn a language have to work through an established first-language

As Zentella has studied within these three families, she finds an assortment of variation, even in individuals that come from the same family. The author argues that children coming from similar backstories range differently in their expertise in the language of their immigrated parents and the standard language of their residency. She concludes that because each family’s outlook on learning a second language and each individual’s preference challenges one another, one’s ability to learn a second language varies as well; there is no solid explanation as to why some people from the same background are more advanced in Spanish rather than English, and vice versa. Most people would not have taken into account of all the different contributions that this author describes, including gender, social preference, location, and personal beliefs. The common person would assume that acquiring a second language is possible for these families because they are surrounded by it, and that they would be able to maintain both their primary and secondary language. However, the author does analyze the contrasting opinion through observing the differences found in her study. She finds that the development of each person greatly varies to where each has different learning abilities and preferences. Where they live, whom they are in contact with, gender, and even their own personal behavior affects their unique growth. Since all have varying opinions, their decisions and values are placed accordingly to their own desire; in conclusion, these are all major factors in how people’s language skills

Learning a new language seems to have only positive effects. However, for a Mexican American, accomplishing this goal brought him drawbacks in the interaction with his family. In his essay, ‘’Public and Private language,’’ Richard Rodriguez describes the difficulty in learning a new language and the sacrifice he makes to accomplish his goal. Richard Rodriguez shares the difficulty for older people, as they learn a new language; however, for younger generations is easier to learn a new language. Also, the new language creates a lack of communication for Richard Rodriguez.

Many kids in school are wanting to learn a new language away from their native language but many students are wondering what language is going to help them the most in the future. English is the clear answer for these students that are wondering what new language to learn for a number of reasons. Through different articles through the book “Language: A Reader for Writers” it discusses how language is the most successful and most useful language to speak. College students who want to learn a second language, that have not learned English, should learn English because it is the most widely used language in the world and it is the most useful language to learn.

Being able to talk a foreign language is more than those who see it as mere practice but a “gateway” to understanding other cultures. Russell Berman’s article makes a claim that learning a foreign language enables us to better understand society by noticing “cultural difference” America has today. By doing so, it can come with many benefits such as learning the culture of other countries and “

Mother Tongue Observational Analysis In the essay, Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan she uses words to do much more than just capture the reader’s attention. Tan not only recalls the past; she vividly includes the reader in her observations creating interest. In the beginning of her essay Tan states these very words, “I am not a scholar of English or literature.”

Language as a combination of single words and different ideas affects us everyday in life. In the essay “Mother tongue” by Amy Tan, the author describes how her mother’s English influences her in her career and life that the “mother tongue” does not limit her as a writer, but shaped her and her perception on life instead. And her attitude to her mother’s English changes from the initial embarrassment to the final appreciation.

Many popular theories of second language acquisition have been analyzed throughout history. The socialization of L2 learners, their present emotional state that is present at the time of acquisition, as well as the comprehensible input and output with the use of scaffolding play a major role in second language acquisition. Kirsten Hummel states, “The one most effective way to increase L2 competence was by exposure to ‘comprehensible input’.” (Hummel, 2014, p. 73) Let us also not forget the importance of written expression as well as reading comprehension with these L2 learners. Each plays a role in language development. However, I believe that to acquire language one must use a variety of techniques that work together to create a balance within the learning environment. Furthermore, all L2 learners acquire language differently and so using a variety of resources that are based on the ability of each student is neccesary. There are many theories that have been developed by highly qualified experts in the field of linguistics. However, I will address those areas that I agree with as I present my personal theories on second language acquisition.

Thesis Statement: There are many ways and reasons to learn how to speak in any foreign languages.

Introductory lessons in a foreign language start out as seemingly impossible to master, yet in due time begin to make sense. Excitement escalates as the brain starts functioning in another language and continues beyond the first few lessons alone. Dincay, a professor at Istanbul Arel University, notes, “the feeling of accomplishment that comes with [students’] first steps toward a second language can spur them on to a deeper and broader passion for learning in general” (Dincay 1). Students who reach an expertise level in foreign language carry that same capability acquired first through language studies over into other realms of life, producing competent results beyond areas concerning language alone. In her article, “Benefits of Being Bilingual,” Marcos writes, “Studies suggest that persons with full proficiency in more than one language (bilinguals) outperform similar monolingual persons on both verbal and nonverbal tests of intelligence” (Marcos 1). Proficiency in a foreign language develops a needed sense of accomplishment in students, enabling them to move on and conquer other tasks and responsibilities with rare poise and fortitude. They realize that unlike monolinguals, their lives are not confined to one culture alone, but can easily extend to impact an incredible realm of people throughout their

Some students would argue that taking a foreign language class in high school would not benefit them after graduation, as they plan to study a major in which being multilingual is not essential. This may seem reasonable as some majors, such as cosmetology or psychology may not ever use a foreign language nor require further study of a foreign language. However, studies have shown that studying a foreign language builds more skills than just language. Memorization, critical thinking and interpretation skills improve immensely in those students who take a foreign language class in high school (“Benefits and Opportunities” 1). Students can then use these skills to improve academic performance in other areas, improving overall college success.

Acquiring and learning a second language do not refer only to handling oral communication skills. It is more than that; it takes the students´ abilities in enhancing their lexicon, their management in syntax, and their perspective about words´ influences in people. Thus, summing this up, it is indispensable that ESL students have a grand deal about linguistic knowledge. In other words, ESL learners not only require speaking, but also reading, writing and thinking in English when they complete whatever English career.

My family has always been interested in travelling. Since I was five, we have been travelling to Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and China and explored different cultures. These experiences allowed me to have a particular interest in English and Japanese languages, which led me to study at a language specialist school in Korea, majoring in English and minoring in Japanese. This inspired me to consider using different languages as well as becoming a cultural bridge as a significant part of my future career.

It seems that learning a foreign language has never been an easy job and it takes a lot of time, sometimes all your life to master it (Brown, 2000). Among the four main skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, the first one could be considered the most challenging. Until now, I can still remember how difficult it was to develop this particular skill when I was in high school. In this essay, I will clearly describe my learning experiences as a grade-ten student trying to improve the speaking skill through English lessons at high school.

Olshtain ,1983 ) , the German learners of English (House & Kasper ,1987; House ,1988; DeCapua , 1989) , the Danish learners of English (House & Kasper ,1987; Trosborg ,1987; Faerch & Kasper , 1989 ) , the Japanese learners of English as TL ( Takahashi & Dufon ,1989; Beebe et al ,1990 ) , the Hebrew (Cohen & Olshtain ,1981 ) , the Russian (Olshtain ,1983 ) , the German (House ,1988 ) , the Spanish ( Scarcella ,1983 ) , the Venezuelan ( Garcia ,1989 ) , and the Japanese (Beebe et al ,1990; Takahashi & Beebe ,1993 ) , and the Thai learners of ESL (Bergman & Kasper ,1993 ). Cohen & Olshtain ( 1981 ) , for instance , studied how Hebrew learners of English as L 2 did things with their interlanguage of