Optimizing Second Language Acquisition: A Focus on Influential Factors and Techniques
Abstract
The process through which individuals learn a language other than their mother tongue, usually after mastering their first language, is known as second language acquisition, or SLA. In this context, the second language refers to English, and this paper examines the factors influencing its acquisition. Reviews and research on SLA have been considered for a comprehensive study. The use of various tools and technologies for second language learning is highlighted, and their relationships are clearly established in this paper. Previous studies and controversies are explored to deepen the understanding of the concept. The factors influencing English language learning are broadly defined and reviewed in depth, providing insights into real-world applications. This paper also examines different languages to identify the factors involved in learning English. Various authors’ perspectives and viewpoints are analyzed to draw specific conclusions. A secondary research methodology is employed, utilizing reviews and observations from multiple authors. The results and discussion are based on this approach, leading to a well-rounded conclusion. The study also highlights the significance of social and cultural factors in SLA, emphasizing how learners’ settings affect their proficiency. Issues including exposure, age, and motivation are examined critically, with an emphasis on using creative teaching techniques to get past these obstacles. Future study directions are also suggested in order to fill in the gaps in the body of literature and promote more successful English learning frameworks around the world.
Keyword: Creative teaching techniques, second language acquisition, factors influencing SLA, variability, changes in English learning
Refrences:
1. Loewen S, Sato M. Interaction and instructed second language acquisition. Lang Teach. 2018 Jul;51(3):285–329.
2. Mahmoodi MH, Yousefi M. Second language motivation research 2010–2019: A synthetic exploration. Lang Learn J. 2022 May 4;50(3):273–96.
3. Teimouri Y, Goetze J, Plonsky L. Second language anxiety and achievement: A meta-analysis–erratum. Stud Second Lang Acquis. 2019 May;41(2):363–87.
4. Dincer A, Yeşilyurt S. Pre-service English teachers’ beliefs on speaking skill based on motivational orientations. English Language Teaching (ELT). 2013;6(7):88–95.
5. Yan Z, Li Z, Panadero E, Yang M, Yang L, Lao H. A systematic review on factors influencing teachers’ intentions and implementations regarding formative assessment. Assess Educ: Princ Policy Pract. 2021 May 4;28(3):228–60.
6. Hanzawa K. Development of second language speech fluency in foreign language classrooms: A longitudinal study. Lang Teach Res. 2024 May;28(3):816–38.
7. Schmidt R. Awareness and second language acquisition. Ann Rev Appl Linguist. 1992 Mar; 13:206–26.
8. Schiller E, Dorner H. Factors influencing senior learners’ language learning motivation. A Hungarian perspective. J Adult Learn Knowl Innov. 2022 May 11;5(1):12–21.
9. Rothman J, Slabakova R. The generative approach to SLA and its place in modern second language studies. Stud Second Lang Acquis. 2018 Jun;40(2):417–42.
10. Meşe E, Sevilen Ç. Factors influencing EFL students’ motivation in online learning: A qualitative case study. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning (JETOL). 2021 Jan;4(1):
11–22.
11. Sato M, Csizér K. Introduction: Combining learner psychology and ISLA research: Intersections in the classroom. Lang Teach Res. 2021 Nov;25(6):839–55.
12. Khajavy GH, MacIntyre PD, Barabadi E. Role of the emotions and classroom environment in willingness to communicate: Applying doubly latent multilevel analysis in second language acquisition research. Stud Second Lang Acquis. 2018 Sep;40(3):605–24.
13. Leong LM, Ahmadi SM. An Analysis of Factors Influencing Learners’ English-Speaking Skill. International Journal of Research in English Education (IJREE). 2017; 2(1):34–41.
14. Krashen S. Second language acquisition. Second Lang Learn. 1981;3(7):19–39.
15. Ericsson KA, Kintsch W. Long-term working memory. Psychol Rev. 1995 Apr;102(2):211.
16. Wong J, Baars M, Davis D, Van Der Zee T, Houben GJ, Paas F. Supporting self-regulated learning in online learning environments and MOOCs: A systematic review. Int J Hum–Comput Interact. 2019 Mar 16;35(4-5):356–73.
17. Birdsong D. Plasticity, variability and age in second language acquisition and bilingualism. Front Psychol. 2018 Mar 12; 9:81.
18. Hartshorne JK, Tenenbaum JB, Pinker S. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition. 2018 Aug 1; 177:263–77.
19. Alexopoulou T, Michel M, Murakami A, Meurers D. Task effects on linguistic complexity and accuracy: A large‐scale learner corpus analysis employing natural language processing techniques. Lang Learn. 2017 Jun;67(S1):180–208.
20. MacIntyre PD. An overview of language anxiety research and trends in its development. New insights into language anxiety: Theory, research and educational implications. 2017 Apr 25:11–30.
21. Yashima T, MacIntyre PD, Ikeda M. Situated willingness to communicate in an L2: Interplay of individual characteristics and context. Lang Teach Res. 2018 Jan;22(1):115–37.
22. Dewaele JM, Dewaele L. The dynamic interactions in foreign language classroom anxiety and foreign language enjoyment of pupils aged 12 to 18. A pseudo-longitudinal investigation. J Eur Second Lan Assoc. 2017 Aug 1;1(1):12–22.
23. Van Houten‐Schat MA, Berkhout JJ, Van Dijk N, Endedijk MD, Jaarsma AD, Diemers AD. Self‐regulated learning in the clinical context: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2018 Oct;52(10):
1008–15.
24. Anderson JA, Mak L, Keyvani Chahi A, Bialystok E. The language and social background questionnaire: Assessing the degree of bilingualism in a diverse population. Behav Res Methods. 2018 Feb; 50:250–63.
25. Horwitz EK. On the misreading of Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986) and the need to balance anxiety research and the experiences of anxious language learners. New insights into language anxiety: Theory, research and educational implications. 2017 Dec 31; 31:47.