Second Language Acquisition: Principles, Theories and Practice

21st

       Second language acquisition is the process by which people learn a second language. Second-language acquisition (SLA) is also the name of the scientific discipline devoted to studying that process. Second language refers to any language learned in addition to a person's first language; although the concept is named second language acquisition, it can also incorporate the learning of third, fourth or subsequent languages. Second-language acquisition refers to what learners do; it does not refer to practices in language teaching.

Principles of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) are:

1. Language is Changeable and Vocabulary has an Important Role in Acquisition; All languages are a tool which can be manipulated to serve the needs of those who use it. But language is always changeable; it caused there is no language can develop without the development of the society.  So that when the society develop, certaintly language also develop.
2. Language Acquisition is also Cultural Acquisition; Language is the composition of culture, is the load of culture. In short, language and culture are merged tightly.
3. Language Acquisition is A Long–term Process; We know that language acquisition is inseparable from its culture and culture acquisition can't be acquired in a short time. So language acquisition needs a reasonably long time.
4. Motivation is the Stimulation of Second Language Acquisition; Motivation is the generator to do something. Good motivation can improve work or study of something. Language acquisition is not a simple job but an affordable work, which needs long and sometimes painful process.
5. Native Language Proficiency is of Benefit to Second Language Acquisition; In the world, different nations normally have different languages; however, any language proficiency including native language surely contributes to second language acquisition because there is no language that exists without any rules. One can use one rule in this language and that at some cases.
6. Social Factors Affect the Second Language Acquisition; The social factors affect our lives and also have a great impact on second language acquisition but probably do not influence it directly.
7. Individual Acquirer Differences Differ in Second Language Acquisition: Cognitive style is a term used to refer to the manner in which people perceive, conceptualize, organize, and recall information. Each person is considered to have a more or less consistent mode of cognitive functioning. “Open” or “close” person in character is different from acquisition of language.

Therories of Second language Acquisition (SLA):

1. The Acculturation Model: Second language acquisition is just one aspect of acculturation and the degree to which a learner acculturates to the terget language group will control the degree to which he acquires the second language.(Schumann 1978:34)
2. The Nativization Model: Andersen sees two general forces; nativization and denativization. Nativization consists of assimilation while denativization involves accomodation. The acculturation and nativist models focus on the power mechanisms of SLA
3. Accomodation Theory: This theory does not explain assembly mechanisms nor account for the developmental sequence. The strenght of accomodation theory is that it encompasses language acquisition and language use within a single framework. This theory provides an explanation of language-learner language variability.
4. Discourse Theory: Through communicating with other people, children accomplish actions in the world and develop the rules of language structure and use. This view of how the development takes place is called discourse theory. The discourse theory does not address the nature of the learner strategies responsible for SLA.
5. The Monitor Model: Causative variables taken into account in the Monitor Model. The monitor, the only evidence for monitoring lies in the language user's own account of trying to apply explicit rules ( e.g Cohen and Robbins 1976) and Krashen's treatment of variability.
6. The Variable Competence Model: The process of language use is to be understood in terms of the distnction between linguistic knowledge and the ability to make use of this knowledge. The variable competence model of SLA attemps to account for the availability of languages learners and the external and internal processes responsible for SLA.
7. The universal hypothesis: The universal hypothesis provides an interesting account of how the languages properties of the target language and the learner's first language may influence the course development. 
8. A neurofucntional theory: A neurofucntional perspective on language attempts to characterize the neurolinguistic information processing systems responsible for the development and use of language. Neurofucntional accounts of SLA have considered the contribution of The left hemisphere and The right hemisphere of the brain. Right hemisphere is responsible for the storing and processing of formulaic speech. Left hemisphere functioning, in general the left hemisphere is asscociated with the creative language use, including syntatic and semantic processing and the motor operations involved in speaking and writing. 

Practice of Second Language Acquisition:

1. Learning in The Classroom. Teacher need the resources of an authentic language learning. It is especially needed when we study a second language in our own country. Sources of learning the language used should be authentic in terms of pronunciation, intonation, accent and idiom. In addition the teacher / the school is required to provide newspapers and magazines in both languages because it is a valid reading of two sources and always provide the latest information about the culture of both.
2. Learning Self-taught. This method can be done in a way to buy a CD or DVD learning a second language that many are sold in bookstores / tapes or can be ordered online via the Internet. Fundamental weakness of this learning method is the absence of accompanying teachers, so that when students need to ask, no one can answer. 
3. The Exchange of Langauge. Learning a second language by using this method requires students to find native speakers who are studying a second language and who want to learn the mother tongue or first language of students, so the two can teach each other their respective languages. This can be done by accessing several sites on the Internet that offer these services
4. Traveled and Lived for Some Time Abroad. By traveling abroad or even the opportunity to stay for some time abroad, students will be able to understand the culture of local people. He can see and realize the similarities nor the differences between people and the culture of the nation's culture whose language is being learned.

Sources:

http://fharrachman.blogspot.com/2010/12/eight-theories-of-second-language.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-language_acquisition

http://fanyaiiu.blogspot.com/2012/06/second-language-acquition-principles.html