2.4 Antecedents Of Learning English Case Study
2.4 Antecedents of Learning English This part investigates the factors affecting the acquisition or learning of English as a foreign or a second language. In the literature, there are several factors identified as influential in learning English with varying levels of positive and negative effects. Some of the identified factors are age, exposure, formal education, motivation, and attitudes among others.
2.4.1 Age and Early Exposure
Several studies on language acquisition (e.g. Fathman, 1975; Johnson and Newport, 1989) provided evidences on how age and early exposure influence the rate of learning a new language. According to Fathman (2006), there was some relationship between age and rate of learning, with younger children found to learn …show more content…
In their works, Krashen and Terrell (1983) implied that the aim of language is communication, spoken or written, which undergo a gradual but natural process of development. However, to make the process more effective, learners have to have the open-mindedness and the right attitude to learn, with less emotional sensitivity, cynicism, and anxiety to make mistakes: characteristics that are more present in young …show more content…
Behavior, in any given situation, is a result of the individual’s attitude (Fazio, Powell, & Williams, 1989). In the English learning literature, the development of a positive attitude towards learning was earlier attributed to Integrativeness, or the genuine desire to learn a new language so that one can communicate with the members of the community who use the language as their medium of communication (Dörnyei, 1998). The positive attitude towards learning English, according to integrativeness concept, was attributed to the individual’s personal interest of coming closer to English speaking communities(Dörnyei, 1998; Gardner, 2001), which also implied an openness and respect for other cultural groups and ways of life (Gardner,
2.4.1 Age and Early Exposure
Several studies on language acquisition (e.g. Fathman, 1975; Johnson and Newport, 1989) provided evidences on how age and early exposure influence the rate of learning a new language. According to Fathman (2006), there was some relationship between age and rate of learning, with younger children found to learn …show more content…
In their works, Krashen and Terrell (1983) implied that the aim of language is communication, spoken or written, which undergo a gradual but natural process of development. However, to make the process more effective, learners have to have the open-mindedness and the right attitude to learn, with less emotional sensitivity, cynicism, and anxiety to make mistakes: characteristics that are more present in young …show more content…
Behavior, in any given situation, is a result of the individual’s attitude (Fazio, Powell, & Williams, 1989). In the English learning literature, the development of a positive attitude towards learning was earlier attributed to Integrativeness, or the genuine desire to learn a new language so that one can communicate with the members of the community who use the language as their medium of communication (Dörnyei, 1998). The positive attitude towards learning English, according to integrativeness concept, was attributed to the individual’s personal interest of coming closer to English speaking communities(Dörnyei, 1998; Gardner, 2001), which also implied an openness and respect for other cultural groups and ways of life (Gardner,