Espanol y El Cerebro
By Noe Reyes
Eric Lenneberg
The right age to learn a language is very debatable. Eric Lenneberg said that learning a second language is best learned between age 2 and puberty, known as the, "Critical Period Hypothesis". Eric Lenneberg was a linguist and neurologist who pioneered ideas on language acquisition. The Critical Period Hypothesis is the very debatable factor that links learning a language to a certain age. The capability to learn a second language is negatively affected by the process of lateralization. lateralization is completed by puberty therefore a second language is recommended to be learned before puberty.
Advantages of learning a new language at a younger age
- They are exposed to more of the language
- They do not have much knowledge of a prior language
- Younger learners can still develop a native like accent
-Less to learn to be considered an average speaker
-More likely to receive comprehensive input
-Younger learners use the same part of the brain
Advantages of learning a new language at a mature age
-Can use conscious strategy to comprehend
-Has prior knowledge of a language to help
-Has more control over input
-Older learners use multiple parts of the brain
-Transfer words from the first language to the second language
Factors that affect second language aquisition
-Motivation is a very key factor in learning a second language because without it you have no desire to be apart of the second language,
-Quality of instruction is another key factor because if you receive poor instruction you will not be able to comprehend some of the words of the second language
-Personality is a factor because you have to have the right mind set to learn the second language