Factors Affecting SLA/L

Luz V. León

Evelyn Gómez

Individual Learner Differences

Why do some learners do better than others?

Intelligence: mental (IQ): verbal/linguistic

Speaking Using words Writing, etc…

Aptitude: Potential for Achievement.

4 Abilities:

* Identify and memorize.

* Understand the functions of words in sentences.

* Figure out grammar rules.

* Memorize new words.

Attitude

Positive L2 is enrichment Negative L2 is resentment

Age: at what age should L2 instruction begin?

Most people say:

“The younger the better…”?

Affective Factors

There are some characteristics that are likely to affect L2 learning such as:

Anxiety

Anxiety is often related to a sense of threat to the learner's self-concept in the learning situation, for example if a learner fears being ridiculed for a mistake.

Personality Factors

Extroversion vs. Introversion Inhibition vs. Risk-taking Self-steem Confidence

Motivation

Source

Purpose

Intrinsic

(Internal)

Extrinsic

(External)

Integrative

The learner wishes to learn L2 for personal growth and cultural enrichment

Someone else wishes the learner to know L2 for an integrative reason.

Instrumental

The learner wishes to achieve practical goals using L2 (e.g. for a career)

External power wants the learner to learn L2 for a practical purpose.

Learner Preferences

Learning style: an individual’s natural, habitual, and preferred way of absorbing information, processing and retaining new information and skills (Reid 2009).

Learning Styles

Visual Auditory Tactile Kinesthetic Haptic (a combination of the kinesthetic and

tactile styles)

Beliefs and Strategies

Previous learning experiences and assumptions.