Objective:
Compare and contrast first and second language acquisition processes, taking individual and socio-cultural issues into account.
Brief Description:
After reading Chapter 1 and Chapter 5 of Rosa-Lugo et al., (2012), post your replies to ALL of the following questions. Refer to what you have read in the text and other course readings. You may also describe your own experiences or those of family or friends that support your points.
Topics:
- Which facets of first and second language acquisition do you believe are the most similar? Which do you believe are the most different? Give examples and a rationale.
- How much do we know about second language acquisition from neurobiological studies and what do we still need to determine? What questions would you most like answered from future research in this field?
- An employer interviewed applicants for a hotel clerk position. One applicant had the most experience at the hotel (in housekeeping and catering) and had previously worked as a front desk clerk at a Hilton in Colombia for 5 years before moving to the U.S. at age 25. She was clearly the most qualified, but the employer believed that her foreign accent made her “less likeable” to guests. Not wanting to exclude the applicant, the employer told her to work on improving her accent and to return in 3 months for another interview. If you were an expert consultant brought in to determine whether the employee could be expected to eliminate the accent, what would you advise the company and what evidence would you present to support your recommendation?
