Is There an Optimum Age For Foreign Language Learning?

Age is one of the factors which influnce foreign language learning, but not the most important one. Comparision on the effect of foreign language learning between adults and children cannot rely merely on age. So the question of an optimum age for foreign language learning is not a simple one which is only related to age. There are different optimum ages for different aims and demands of learning foreign language.

Differences Between Children’s First Language Acquisition and Adults’Second Language Acquisition

There is an apparent contrast between children’s first language acquisition and adults’second language acquisition,which are mainly manifested in the following three aspects:age difference,difference in learning process and motivation difference.This paper will analyze these three differences in detail,and combine the analysis results to guide second language pedagogical implications according to the current situation.

重述和澄清要求与儿童外语发展

比较重述和澄清要求两种反馈方式对中国外语课堂环境下儿童学习英语过去时态标识的不同作用。纠正性反馈能有效促进儿童外语学习。其中在对反馈的接纳方面,如果老师同时提供重述和澄清要求,儿童的接纳就更多一些,其次是澄清要求,再次是重述;而在反馈的作用方面,重述和澄清要求最能促进儿童外语的发展,其次是重述,再次是澄清要求。

对外语学习低龄热的冷思考

我国外语教学呈低龄化趋势。然而低龄儿童外语教学在师资、教材、学习时间、语言环境、学习动机、学习效果等方面并不尽如人意,导致了低龄儿童外语学习的高成本、低效益。外语教学从小抓起的主要理论支持是“临界期”理论,然而大量的试验、实践证明,外语学习的起始年龄和外语最终成就没有直接关系。在中国目前的国情下,不重视实际情况,盲目地地提前外语学习的起始年龄,尚无理论和实践数据对此进行支持。所以无论从理论上、还是从实践上考虑,“外语学习低龄化”需谨慎行之。