Review on Learner Belief about Second Language Learning

Learner belief is attracting growing attention since it is regarded as one element of individual difference which account for learners' different achievements in second language learning. This article gives a review o studies of learner belief about second language learning concerning its properties, classifications, and majo approaches to investigation. Based on the review, the importance of the research in the field is emphasized.

What Motivates Us to Learn as We Grow?——A Research Review on the Relationship between Age and Motivation in Second Language Learning

Motivation is always a dominatant factor in second language learning and teaching. Dornyei once suggested his model of learners' motivation, which is, language learning attitudes and the Ideal L2 self. Certainly, this could bring some research interests to other researchers. In this paper, the author reviews a research carried among the Hungarians, where the research focus is clearly given on the relationship between age and motivation to test Dornyei' s theory and offer a new way to promote learner's motivation in second language learning.

FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AS A MODEL FOR SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: THE TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE APPROACH IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING

L1 and L2 acquisition, in some respects, are similar. Language development in children goes hand in hand with physical and cognitive development. Children learn their first language by imitation, but not always and not only by imitation. There seems to be some "innate capacities" that make children start to speak at the same time they do and in the way they do it. Adults learning a second language usually are controlled more by their motivation. But language input is important for both L1 and L2 acquisition. Though there are differences between CL1 and between CL2 and AL2, the way in which these learners acquire some of the grammatical morphemes is similar. This, together with some other evidence, shows that it is not only children who can acquire language. Adults can also acquire a language. But when adults acquire a language, they should also learn it. Some of the ways in which children acquire their language can be used as a model for L2 acquisition, even for Chinese students whose language is unrelated to English and whose culture is different. Learning the culture of the English-speaking countries will benefit the learning of the language. Like children, listening should also be well in advance of speaking in L2 acquisition. To train listening comprehension skills, Asher’s TPR approach proves more effective. TPR approach is at the moment limited to the beginning stage only. In order for students to gain all the five skills in a second language learning, namely, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and interpreting/translating, other methods should be used at the same time, or at later stages.

The Analysis of Gender Factor in Second Language Learning

This paper focuses on the factor of gender in Second Language Learning, with the analysis of the different aspects of showing: self-esteem, oral work, reflectivity, pair and group work, skill preference.

An Analysis of Tolerance of Ambiguity in Second Language Learning

In the second language learning,English learners have to face many unavoidable psychological problems,especially the tolerance of ambiguity which plays a vital role in the final result of learning.Traditionally,ambiguity,which means more than two kinds of understandings,is regarded to hindering a learner from making progress.However,based on the cognitive theory,the paper points out that language learning is a moving process from states of doubt and ambiguity to certainty and the tolerance of ambiguity is just the sign of language learning development.The paper also tries to analyze the causes of tolerance of ambiguity from cognitive learning style,learners’strategies,and self-concern factors.According to the English teaching conditions in China,the balance of tolerance of ambiguity is proposed in order to gain the ideal learning.

The Exploration of Individual Differences in Second Language Learning

This paper mainly focuses on the influence of age and motivation in second language learning.Based on the theories of individual differences and an interview analysis,results obtained in this research include three aspects.Firstly,it is better to start a second language at an earlier age.Secondly,integrative motivation weighs more in the long-term success when learning a second language.Thirdly,creating better English environments is essential in EFL schools.

A Complexity Theory Perspective on the Dynamics of Second Language Learning Strategies and the Theoretical Implications

This paper presents a qualitative study to investigate the dynamics in second language(L2)learning strategies under the guidance of the complexity theory.A group of Chinese undergraduate students studying at an international university in Thailand were selected as the research participants.Research instruments include interviews,observations,records of participants’on-line chat and posts,and a research journal.The research findings indicate that the changes in the participants’strategies for learning English exhibit typical features of the complex system.The study will provide implications for probing into the nature of L2 strategy and for applying complexity theory to future researches on L2 strategies.

On the Role of Noticing in Second Language Acquisition and Learning

Apparent discrepancy exists between Schmidt's Noticing Hypothesis and Krashen's Input Hypothesis. Whilst Krashen highlights the importance of comprehensible input and asserts that language is acquired unconciously, the notion of conscious learning has gained wide support from Schmidt and other researchers. They argue that noticing enhances second language development as one crucial level of consciousness. By reviewing the theoretical constructs that underlie the role of noticing, this paper aims to justify the role of noticing as one crucial level of consciousness in enhancing second language learning.

Anderson's Cognitive Theory and Learning Strategy Studies in Second Language Acquisition

Second language acquisition can not be understood without addressing the interaction between language and cognition. Cognitive theory can extend to describe learning strategies as complex cognitive skills. Theoretical developments in Anderson’s production systems cover a broader range of behavior than other theories, including comprehension and production of oral and written texts as well as comprehension, problem solving, and verbal learning.Thus Anderson’s cognitive theory can be served as a rationale for learning strategy studies in second language acquisition.

Motivation and Exposure in Language Learning

As one might expect, motivational theorists have attempted to explain motivation in different ways. This case study at-tempts to provide relevant evidence for the contribution of motivation in second language learning by looking at the success of Japa-nese study of an adult who learned Japanese at a later age 24, acquiring the target language over a 5-year period characterized bytotal exposure in Japan. The study shows that adult can still be successful to acquire second language if he is exposed to the envi-ronment and has strong motivation, and that the boundary of integrative motivation and instrumental motivation is not necessarilyclear-cut completely.

Differences between the Characteristics of Adults and Children as Second/Foreign Language Learners

In this paper, the author will mainly focus on analysis about the differences between characteristics of older learners and young learners in learning second/foreign language.

Teaching Hong Kong English before Teaching Academic English:The Gateway to Effective Learning of College Writing

Owing to the negative view of Hong Kong English(HKE)in popular discourse,few English lecturers in Hong Kong universities directly acknowledge or discuss the variety in a non-linguistic course.This paper illustrates an action research study of how HKE may play a role in an academic writing course of a sub-degree program in Hong Kong.Focusing on 8 representatives from an academic writing course with 100 students,it employed the qualitative experiment method to examine whether students who had possessed basic linguistic knowledge of HKE from an additional tutorial would perceive HKE and academic writing differently from those who had not.Student representatives from each group were invited to a focus group to explore ideas about the two subjects discussed in class.Their conversations suggested that prior knowledge of the syntactic features of HKE might raise students’awareness of the grammatical differences between the variety and the standard.The analysis also suggested that introducing the linguistic view of HKE to students might render them optimistic about their variety,helping them identify the situations where the variety would be tolerant of and settings where Standard English would be expected.The study suggested that such an intervention might facilitate students’learning of Standard English for academic purposes and practices of English in actual professional communication.Upon the improvement or advancement,they will position themselves more powerfully in the dichotomy between the standard and non-standard.More formal research on a similar or relevant topic is required to validate the impact of understanding HKE on learning academic writing.

Teaching Hong Kong English before Teaching Academic English: The Gateway to Effective Learning of College Writing

Owing to the negative view of Hong Kong English(HKE)in popular discourse,few English lecturers in Hong Kong universities directly acknowledge or discuss the variety in a non-linguistic course.This paper illustrates an action research study of how HKE may play a role in an academic writing course of a sub-degree program in Hong Kong.Focusing on 8 representatives from an academic writing course with 100 students,it employed the qualitative experiment method to examine whether students who had possessed basic linguistic knowledge of HKE from an additional tutorial would perceive HKE and academic writing differently from those who had not.Student representatives from each group were invited to a focus group to explore ideas about the two subjects discussed in class.Their conversations suggested that prior knowledge of the syntactic features of HKE might raise students’awareness of the grammatical differences between the variety and the standard.The analysis also suggested that introducing the linguistic view of HKE to students might render them optimistic about their variety,helping them identify the situations where the variety would be tolerant of and settings where Standard English would be expected.The study suggested that such an intervention might facilitate students’learning of Standard English for academic purposes and practices of English in actual professional communication.Upon the improvement or advancement,they will position themselves more powerfully in the dichotomy between the standard and non-standard.More formal research on a similar or relevant topic is required to validate the impact of understanding HKE on learning academic writing.

Vygotskian Approaches to Interlanguage Fossilization

During the process of language acquisition, interlanguage fossilization is a common phenomenon among second language learners. Based on Vygotskian approaches, this paper looks at the causes of interlanguage fossilization, including social identity, learners' motivation, the influence of one's mother tongue and learning styles. By vividly incorporating my own language learning experience, this paper intends to explain how theory can be applied to practice; thereby attempting to shed light on second language learning and teaching. In conclusion, this paper suggests that teachers should get to know their students by paying attention to the most influential factors and encourage interpersonal interaction.

Contrastive Rhetoric and Inter-language Theory

A learner’s stages of L2 development are connected by his or her L1 and culture.It is,accordingly,of paramount importance to understand the second language learners’culture and learning process and better assist them through this process in the way of teaching them English.Similarly,inter-language theory(IL)and contrastive rhetoric are affected by factors,such as learner’s L1,learning experiences,and culture.This paper talks about these two theory’s characteristics,constructs,and importance,so language instructors may better understand the L2 learning phenomena and think out better methods to help language learners improve their language skills.

Some Knacks of Studying English Writing： From My Own Learning Experience

A learner's stages of L2 development are connected by his or her L1 and culture. It is, accordingly, of paramount impor-tance to understand the second language learners' culture and learning process and better assist them through this process in theway of teaching them English writing.This essay has demonstrated several elements which affect learners' English writing throughmy own experiences, such as different cultures, reading and correct recognition of writing, and the writing process.

浅议二语习得策略中的性别差异(英文)

Sex has been studied as a factor of variation in sociolinguistics.Research in this field shows great differences in language use depending on the sex of the speaker and the listen- er.However,sex as a variable has not received much attention in the field of second language learning/teaching,studies specifically designed study sex as a variable in language learning strategies are few compared with research on other factors such as age,motivation,educational level and“good language learners”.The aim of thi...

Language Learning Declines after Second Year of Life

人们普遍认为,语言学习过程中存在着“敏感期”,在这一期间人们习得词汇和语法的能力是最强的。那么“敏感期”究竟是在什么时候呢?美国一位科学家最近公布了他的研究成果:足够的证据表明,“敏感期”出现得非常早,通常是在两岁之前。换言之,人的语言学习能力从两岁以后就会逐渐减弱。

科技辅助第二语言教学研究趋势及其对国际中文教育的启示

In recent years,the enabling role of technology has been widely recognized in second language teaching and learning.Using a co-word analysis approach,this study aims to present the state-ofthe-art current literature in technology enhanced language learning.The analysis results show that most popular research themes from 2010 to 2020 are CMC,L2 writing,teacher education,L2 motivation,students’attitudes,SLA,L2 vocabulary learning,L2 reading,EFL,and L2 learners.Compared with these key themes,publications on technology enhanced teaching Chinese as a foreign language focus more on the investigation of the effectiveness of the use of latest technologies such as smart phones,virtual reality,intelligent tools,and gamification.Based on the findings of these investigations,the latest developments in these areas are synthesized and presented accordingly.In addition,newly-emerged key themes about the co-word analysis are also reported and their contributions to future investigations is briefly discussed.The implications for future research in technology enhanced teaching Chinese as a foreign language is also discussed.

Study on the Strengths and Weaknesses of Task-Based Syllabus

In recent years,task-based learning is becoming increasingly popular forsecond language learners due to its emphasis on learners’communicative competence,compared with traditional PPP model which pays more attention on language and grammar.Thus,further exploration on task-based approach is necessary.By discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the syllabus,this paper aims to discover the teaching situations best-suited for this syllabus.