This pilot study explored the linguistic gains of intermediate level Spanish learners who completed community-based learning at a Spanish-speaking seniors center. Leamers had the opportunity, rare in foreign-language ...This pilot study explored the linguistic gains of intermediate level Spanish learners who completed community-based learning at a Spanish-speaking seniors center. Leamers had the opportunity, rare in foreign-language instruction, to discuss topics from their textbook in authentic native/non-native dyads. The interactions also allowed the seniors to fulfill an identified community needed by socializing in Spanish. Analyses of a post-service survey revealed that learners assessed the experience positively, because they spoke Spanish creatively. Seniors were described as cooperative and fun interlocutors, suggesting that age difference minimally affected the interactions. Direct observation revealed that learners managed to produce L2 Spanish output in connected speech for an extended period of time. Likewise, the seniors enjoyed a moment of socialization and first language use while sharing their views on the topics of discussion with the young visitors. Seniors＇ active participation likely encouraged learners to cope with sudden switches of topics that required negotiating for meaning and pushing the still limited interlanguages. A new service leaming study proposes to investigate the use of native/non-native dyads in Spanish in fulfilling a dual function： socialization and first language maintenance for the seniors at the center and language learning for the students.展开更多
English language, as a global language, is exerting greater influence on the world. It has been enlarging along with the development of the society, the progress of science and technology by the way of borrowing from ...English language, as a global language, is exerting greater influence on the world. It has been enlarging along with the development of the society, the progress of science and technology by the way of borrowing from other languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic in the fields of politics, culture, education, economics, science, and technology. Borrowing or loan word has become an important part in the process of English vocabulary acquisition. This paper studies modem English loan words, summarizes types of loan words, and makes a tentative analysis of their features with the attempt to facilitate English learning in an effective way.展开更多
文摘This pilot study explored the linguistic gains of intermediate level Spanish learners who completed community-based learning at a Spanish-speaking seniors center. Leamers had the opportunity, rare in foreign-language instruction, to discuss topics from their textbook in authentic native/non-native dyads. The interactions also allowed the seniors to fulfill an identified community needed by socializing in Spanish. Analyses of a post-service survey revealed that learners assessed the experience positively, because they spoke Spanish creatively. Seniors were described as cooperative and fun interlocutors, suggesting that age difference minimally affected the interactions. Direct observation revealed that learners managed to produce L2 Spanish output in connected speech for an extended period of time. Likewise, the seniors enjoyed a moment of socialization and first language use while sharing their views on the topics of discussion with the young visitors. Seniors＇ active participation likely encouraged learners to cope with sudden switches of topics that required negotiating for meaning and pushing the still limited interlanguages. A new service leaming study proposes to investigate the use of native/non-native dyads in Spanish in fulfilling a dual function： socialization and first language maintenance for the seniors at the center and language learning for the students.
文摘English language, as a global language, is exerting greater influence on the world. It has been enlarging along with the development of the society, the progress of science and technology by the way of borrowing from other languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic in the fields of politics, culture, education, economics, science, and technology. Borrowing or loan word has become an important part in the process of English vocabulary acquisition. This paper studies modem English loan words, summarizes types of loan words, and makes a tentative analysis of their features with the attempt to facilitate English learning in an effective way.
