Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition
Every language has its own set of rules writing and speaking the language properly, and students trying to learn a new language often blur the lines between which set of rules to use. English Language learners also face a certain degree of fear or anxiety about tackling a new language, that can in turn affect how easily or how well they acquire the second language.
Five stages of Language Acquisition
1. Silent/receptive
This stage may last from several hours to several months, depending on the individual learner. During this time, new language learners typically spend time learning vocabulary and practice pronouncing new words. While they may engage in self-talk, they don’t normally speak the language with any fluency or real understanding. This stage is controversial among language educators. Some teachers disagrees that second language learners are totally silent while they are in this first learning stage.
The Early Pre-production Stage of Language Learning
Your students are learning during this silent, pre-production stage. They are
acquiring language every day.
They may have up to 500 words in their receptive vocabulary.
New learners of English can listen attentively and they may even be able to copy words from the board.
They will be able to respond to pictures and other visuals.
They can understand and duplicate gestures and movements to show comprehension.
Choral reading and Total Physical Response methods will work well with them.
English language learners at this stage will need much repetition of English.
They will benefit from a “buddy” who speaks their language.
Teachers should focus attention on listening comprehension activities and on building a receptive vocabulary.
Teaching strategies for Pre-Production Stage
Encourage listening and not force speaking Slow speech, emphasize key words
Model and demonstrate activities
Use visual aids, pictures, graphic organizers, realia
Use gestures and body language
Use multimedia aids to illustrate concepts
Use Total Physical Response techniques
Modify work by amount, time, content Learn
2. Early production
This stage may last about six months, during which language learners typically acquire an understanding of up to 1,000 words. They may also learn to speak some words and begin forming short phrases, even though they may not be grammatically correct.
Early Production Stage of Language Learning
Relate words to their environment
Begin to grasp main ideas of message
Begin to focus on contextual clues
Use routine expressions independently
Demonstrate improved comprehension
Mispronounce words (no need for correction)
Will repeat or recite memorable language
Will use one or two word responses advancing to two or three words
May not tell you if they do not understand Strat
Teaching strategies for Early Production Stage
Encourage listening and not force speaking
Use cooperative learning and scaffolding techniques Ask Yes/No and directed choice questions Ask Who? What? Where? Questions
Ask listing type questions
Use Think-Pair-Share technique when asking questions of the class
Allow students to illustrate knowledge
Use labeling and diagramming in illustrations
Modify work by amount of time, content
3. Speech emergence
By this stage, learners typically acquire a vocabulary of up to 3,000 words, and learn to communicate by putting the words in short phrases, sentences, and questions. Again, they may not be grammatically correct, but this is an important stage during which learners gain greater comprehension and begin reading and writing in their second language.
Speech Emergence Stage of Language Learning
Begin to speak in simple sentences
Demonstrate expanded vocabulary
Show improved comprehension
May ask for clarification or meaning
Participate in small group discussions
May rely on native language to communicate complex ideas
Start to acquire basic communication skills and social language
May not tell you if they do not understand.
Teaching Strategies for Early Production Stage
Encourage listening and not force speaking
Use cooperative grouping
Encourage efforts to participate
Ask How and Why questions
Emphasize content area vocabulary
Provide pictures and content area text
Provide opportunities for participation in early reading and writing activities
Modify work according to individual need.
4. Intermediate fluency
At this stage, which may last for a year or more after speech emergence, learners typically have a vocabulary of as many as 6,000 words. They usually acquire the ability to communicate in writing and speech using more complex sentences. This crucial stage is also when learners begin actually thinking in their second language, which helps them gain more proficiency in speaking it.
Intermediate Fluency Stage of Language Learning
Begin to speak in more complex sentences
May use incorrect grammar and verb forms
Participate more often in large groups
Need context clues in content area
Exhibit greater vocabulary development
Begin to think in the new language instead of translating from native language
Teaching Strategies for Intermediate Fluency Stage
Encourage listening and not force speaking
Provide visually rich content instruction
Design content activities that focus on speech production, not grammatical form
Have students take on larger roles in cooperative group activities
Provide extra time or modify assignments Introduce colloquialisms/idioms
5. Continued language development/advanced fluency
It takes most learners at least two years to reach this stage, and then up to 10 years to achieve full mastery of the second language in all its complexities and nuances. Second language learners need ongoing opportunities to engage in discussions and express themselves in their new language, in order to maintain fluency in it.
Advanced Fluency Stage of Language Learning
Can interact extensively with native speakers
Make few grammatical errors
Participate in English literacy programs
Have high levels of comprehension but may not understand all of the academic language
Read and write for a variety of purposes
Continue to need extensive vocabulary development in content
Teaching Strategies for Advanced Fluency Stage
Encourage listening and not force speaking
Emphasize content area vocabulary
Begin to provide grammar instruction
Focus on reading and writing skills
Have students take on advanced cooperative learning roles (note-taker, reporter)
Continue to support content area instruction with visuals, realia, and active learning strategies
Reference
Second Language Acquisition and Second ... - Stephen Krashen. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2016, from http://www.sdkrashen.com/content/books/sl_acquisition_and_learning.pdf
McREL - The Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2016, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNDNNW6LgWM