Unit 12 Differences between L1 and L2 learning

In this unit we review some differences about L1 and L2 learning. First we talk about age in in the first language learning starts when learners are babies they learn at the same time as their cognitive skills, then when they are children, in the adolescence. On the other hand L2 learn the language when they are in primary school they are still developing other cognitive skills. When they are adults are likely to show maturity in their attitudes to language learning.

The way they learn can be different; L1 learns by exposure to and pick up language around him or her by hearing it they play and experiment with the language and rarely being corrected instead people around them reformulate what they said but L2 are likely to learn by taught specific items or focusing on structures and individual words. They often used language in controlled practice activities which don’t let them experiment with the language as much as they want and teachers often correct them and ask to use correct language.

Finally, I believe that it’s really important that teachers let L2 to experiment with the language sometimes because it will help the learner to make mistakes then he/she will correct it, also they need to build up confidence with the language learn to have motivation to continue learning.

Useful resources:

• http://www.slideshare.net/GeoffrizalGeography/elt-methodology-differences-bet-l1-and-l2