Second Language Acquisition: A General Overview
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Date
2016-04
Authors
Silvana de, Biaggi
Samojluk, Cinthya
Dr. Wa-Mbaleka, Safary
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Abstract
Second language acquisition (SLA) is known as both the
process of learning an additional language and the field where issues
pertaining to the teaching and learning of a second language (L2)
are discussed (Ellis, 2010; Nunan, 2001). The field of SLA has
experienced exponential growth over the past 3 decades. As Ellis
(2010) states it rightly, SLA is “now an established discipline” (p.
182). This is evident in the growth of SLA research, SLA textbooks,
and increase in number of theories, principles, and strategies that are
found in the field of SLA. While this tremendous advance has been
heavily demonstrated particularly in the United States, growth seems
sparing in other countries. In fact, few are higher education
institutions that offer Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL) programs where SLA courses should normally
be offered. Without proper knowledge and understanding of how L2s
are taught and learned, it is quite likely that teaching English to nonnative speakers in these non-English speaking countries is negatively
affected. This paper synthesizes important topics pertaining to SLA to
help TESOL experts with some fundamental understanding.
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Keywords
Second language acquisition, ESL, EFL, TESOL, Theories, Review