Factors affecting Language Learning

Factors affecting Language Learning

          Language is a means of expression our emotions and thoughts. Some children acquire language more quickly than others. Some factors that affect learning language are as follows.

1. Maturation and Symbolization :

            These biological factors are proposed by the structuralists while explaining language ac-quisition. Language is a system of symbols. So, the child should have the mental capacity to hold in mind a symbol realization of something else. It is through such capacity that a child masters language features like displacement.

2. Age Level :

            There are various age levels when children learn a language. According to Chomsky the ability to learn a native language develops within a fixed period from birth to middle childhood. A child generally achieves language fluency at the age of 3 years.

3. Language acquisition Schedule:

            It is related to the age factor. As children grow their vocabulary also grows. There are miles stones in the development of a child's language learning.

4. Exposure to Language :

           The learner's normal brain development depends on early and regular exposure to language. Children are exposed to adult language and it influences their language development. A child will acquire the language if he/she is sufficiently exposed to children who don't get this exposure will not achieve proper grammatical competence.

5. Child's Health and Language Disability :

             Several studies have shown that the child's health and language disability have much influence on language learning. Language disorders like dyslexia affect language learning.

6. Family Factors :

            The language of the parents and other family members determines the language of a child. The interactions within the family play a vital role in offering a child verbal contacts and the opportunity to use language in meaningful ways.

7. Personal Factors :

             Some personal factors like gender, birth order and nature of birth also affect the child's learning of a language. It is found that girls have an advantage over boys in language acquisi-tion. Some children learn a language more quickly and easily than others. This is also found in learning the second language.

            There are a few other factors which are beyond the control of the learner. These factors are broadly categorized as Internal and External factors.

Internal Factors :

1. Age:

             Second language learning is affected by the age of the learner. As the children know their mother-tongue, they acquire a new language effectively.

2. Personality: 

             Anxious learners usually make slower progress as they are less willing to take advantage of opportunities. However, more but going students will not worry about the inevitability of making mistakes. They will take risks and thus will have more practice.

3. Motivation: 

             Intrinsic motivation has been found to correlate strongly with educational achievement. Students who enjoy language learning will do better than those who do not. Extrinsic motivation is also a significant factor. For example, ESL students who need to learn English in order to take a place at an American university are likely to make greater efforts and thus greater progress.

4. Experience: 

             Learners who have acquired general knowledge and experience are in a stronger position to develop a new language than those who have not. For example, the student who has already lived in three different countries and has been exposed to various languages has a stronger base for learning a further language than the student who hasn't had such experience.

5. Cognition: 

              Generally, it seems that students with greater cognitive abilities (intelligence) will make faster progress.

6. Native Language: 

              Students who are learning a second language from the same family as their mother-tongue have a much easier task than those are not. For example, a Dutch child will learn English more quickly than a Japanese child.

External Factors :

1. Curriculum (Syllabus) :

           For ESL students, it important that the totality of their educational experience is appropriate for their needs.

2. Instruction (Teaching) :

          Some language teachers are better than others at providing effective learning experiences for the students. These students will make faster progress.

3. Culture and Status:

          It is found that the students who are from the culture status in which they are learning the language make faster progress.

4. Access to Native Speakers:

          Those students who have extensive access to native speakers of the language are likely to progress faster.

5. Gender : 

          It is found that girls learn language faster than boys.

6. Residence:

          Residence is one more factor that affects language learning. If children are happy in their country of residence, they can learn language better. However, some children have to go from one place to another because of the transfers of their parents. Such students generally make slow progress.

7. Multilingualism: 

          The use of two or more languages at home can affect language devel-opment. According to same linguists, multilingualism can lead to a slight delay in early language development.

                 Thus, there are various factors which influence both first language acquisition and second language learning.