Second language learning

Summary: Views of the language learner is that language learner should be someone who learns an additional language. They can learn it from a formal classroom or from society even from work. Second language learner won't be infant bilingual but will be anyone who wants to study more in their second language. Lately, the language which language learner mostly learns is English. In addition, we can divide the learner in 3 kinds. First, the learner as language processsor which is about inner mental mechanisms. It includes Lingusists and Psycholinguists and it depands on individual learner. It also concerns about age. There is a question if age affects the ways to learn language. Secondly, differences between individual learnes can be a reason for differences in learning outcomes. There are 2 factors that can make learners different. One is Cognitive factors. Cognitive factors have 3 points which is intelligence, Language aptitude and Language learning strategies. In addition, students who are more intelligence incline to do well in language learning. For language aptitude, it is like a gift for language learning. About language learning strategies, it can be a reason for successful learners and it can be different for each learner to have a individual strategies. Another factor is Affective factors which also have 3 points: Language attitudes, Motivation, and Language anxiety. Finally, the last kind of languagr learner is the learner as social being. It includes universal Characteristics and individual characteristics. (Mitchell and Myles ,pp.17-20)


Personal Response: I really agree with the writers because I think the scholars' view about learning language and a language learner is very reasonable. I think learners should have thier own ways to learn language. I also think that there are some differences between individual learners. Moreover, I agree with the idea that we all have different cognitive factors and affective factors whic can be a reason why we can not learn in the same way and have the same outcome.