EXCERPT

What are the differences between L1 and L2 learning?

When we learn our first language (L1) we are likely to learn it in different ways and in different contexts from when we learn a second language (L2). We are also likely to be a different age.

 

Key concepts

What differences can you think of between L1 and L2 learning? Think about the learner’s age, ways of learning and context that they are learning in.

	L1 learning	L2 learning (in the classroom)
Age	●  Baby to young child. (L1 learning lasts into adolescence for some kinds of language and language skills, e.g. academic writing)	●Usually at primary school and/or secondary school. It can also start or continue in adulthood.

 

	L1 learning	L2 learning ( in the classroom
Ways of learing	●  By exposure to and picking up language. ●  By wanting and needing to communicate, i.e. with strong motivation. ●  Through interaction with family and friends. ●  By talking about things present in the child’s surroundings. ●  By listening to and taking in language for many months before using it (silent period) ●  By playing and experimenting with new language.	●  Sometimes through exposure but often by being taught specific language. ●  With strong, little or no motivation. ●  Through interaction with teacher and sometimes with classmates. ●  Often by talking about lift outside the classroom. ●  Often by needing to produce language soon after it has been taught. ●  Often by using language in controlled practice activities.

 

	L1 learning	L2 learning (in the classroom)
context	●  The child hears the language around him/her all the time ●  Family and friends talk to and interact with a child a lot. ●  The child has lots of opportunities to experiment with language ●  Caretakers often praise (tell the child he/she has done well) and encourage the child’s use of language ●  Caretakers simplify their speech to the child ●  Caretakers rarely correct the form and accuracy of what the child says in an obvious way	●  The learner is not exposed to the L2 very much – often no more than about three hours pre week ●  Teachers usually simplify their language. ●  Teachers vary in the amount they praise or encourage learner. ●  The learner receives little individual attention from the teacher. ●  Teachers generally correct learners a lot.

 

Caretakers are people who look after a child. Often they are parents. But they may also be brothers or sisters, other members of the family, etc.

It is not always easy to describe L2 learning in the classroom because it happens in different ways in different classrooms. The description in the table above may not be true of all classrooms.

Of course, L2 learning sometimes takes place outside the classroom when children or adults pick up language. In this situation, L2 learning is more similar to L1 learning, expect that the learner often does not get as much exposure to the language as L1 learner and may not be so motivated to learn.

Another big difference between L1 and L2 learning is that L1 learning is nearly always fully successful, while L2 learning varies a lot in how successful it is.

---------from The TKT Teaching Knowledge Test Course, Originally published by Cambridge University Press, 2005

Studying Notes

 

There is a form made by writer, on which lists the differences between L1 and L2. As we already know, the result of learning L1is always successful, but L2 is not. There always been a silent period in learning language. The situation is different. During the process of learning L1, it’s easy to be motivated. The people around you keep communication with you, interact with you. You would exposure to a lot and pick up language naturally. But learning L2 is totally different, sometimes it is very hard to find a person to communicate, especially outside the classroom.

 

Vary: v.

1.    if several things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other

vary greatly/ considerably/enormously

Teaching methods vary greatly from school to school.

Vary in price/quality/size

Flowers that vary in color and size

Varying degrees of: varying degrees of success

2.    to change often

His mood seems to vary according to the weather.

It varies: What do you normally have for lunch? – Well, it varies from day to day.

3.    to regularly change what you do or the way that you do it

My doctor said I should vary my diet more.

 

Expect: v.

1.    [ think sth will happen] to think that something will happen because it seems likely or has been planned

Expect [that]: The troops expect the attack will come at dawn.

Expect to do sth: The rent was much more than we had expected to pay.

Expect sb/sth to do sth: He’d been out celebrating and expected his girlfriend to drive him home.

Fully expect = be completely sure something will happen

He fully expected to be paid for giving me this information.

Half expect = think it is possible that something will happen

I half expected to see her at the party.

As expected = in the way that was planned

The ascent of the mountain is proceeding as expected.

Is (only) to be expected = used to say that you are not surprised that an unpleasant situation or remark etc has happened or been said

Some resentment of the new baby was only to be expected.

2.    [be waiting for] to believe that someone or something is going to arrive

Snow is expected by the weekend.

3.    [demand] to demand that someone does something because it is a duty or seems reasonable

The officer expects complete obedience from his troops.

Expect sb to do sth: You can’t expect kids to be quiet all the time.

Expect a lot/too much of sb = think someone can do more that perhaps is possible

The school expects a lot of its students.

4.    [want sth to happen] to think it is reasonable that something should happen or exist

A job and somewhere to live – is that too much to expect?

We had expected to be consulted at the very least.

5.    be expecting: if a woman is expecting, she is going to have a baby

6.    What else can/do you expect? Spoken used to say that you are not surprised by something unpleasant or disappointing because it has happened before

He didn’t leave a forwarding address, but then what can you expect?

7.    I expect spoken especially BrE used to introduce or agree with a statement that you think is probably true

I expect Mum will phone tonight.

I expect so.

Do you think he will get to art college? – Yes, I expect so.

 

Expectancy: n

The feeling that something pleasant or exciting is going to happen

I saw the look of expectancy in the children’s eyes.

 

Expectant: adj

1.    hopeful that something good or exciting will happen

a row of expectant faces

2.expectant mother: a woman who is going to have a baby

--- expectantly adv.