The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport

College of Language and Communication

In Collaboration with

Alexandria University, Faculty of Arts

Institute of Applied Linguistics

M. S. C. Applied Linguistics J. D.

Course Title: Applied Linguistics

Course Code: 0117516

Lecturer: Prof. Laila El-Ghalban

Name: Mervat Moamen Mekky

Registration number: 20125060
Assignment: Different between First Language Acquisition and
Second Language Learning.
Difference between First Language Acquisition and Second
Language Learning:
 Language is the most significant aspect which makes us different
from all other species. Accordingly, language acquisition is the
most impressive aspect of human development both in
psychological and cognitive perspective. The word acquisition is
the process through which humans gain the ability to be aware of
language and to understand it as well as to produce and use words
and sentences to communicate.
 First language is the mother tongue or native language of a
person while a second language is a language a person learns in
order to communicate with the native speaker of that language.
First language acquisition refers to infants who acquire their
native language. They acquire their first language which is the
native language of their parents just the same way they learn it
from their parents with non-focus of grammar as an example.
 Children can acquire more than one language as children who
grow up in a bilingual household; the two different languages of
their parents. Children are born with a language acquisition
device in their brain (Noam Chomsky’s theory). Second language
acquisition is the learning of second language after the first or
native one. It is much easier for children to learn second
language; actually anyone can learn second language. So, we can
say that the different between first language and second language
acquisition is that the first language is the children’s acquisition
of their native or mother language while second language
acquisition is learning new language after acquiring the native
language. Also, first language acquisition is unconscious process
without rules or steps but second language acquisition have some
steps to learn the language, and even after having rules or steps,
that person needs to follow to learn second language, it is still
 hard to reach fluency in second language as the fluency of the
first language.
 According to the behavioristic approach it is primarily imitation
that causes someone to learn their language. It is by listening to
the people around them and imitating what they say and how they
express themselves (cf. Bickes and Pauli 30).
 First language acquisition is connected to cognitive development
with the latter preceding the former somewhat. With the second
language (acquired after puberty) you have all the cognitive
structures necessary to deal with the language.
 Cognitive theory is another theory explaining language
acquisition. According to this approach, language acquisition
must be viewed in the context of children’s intellectual
development and environment. This also focuses on exploring the
relationship between the stages of cognitive development and
language skills.
 Second language acquisition (SLA) is learning a second language
after the first language is already learned. Anyone can learn a
second language, but children usually find it easier. In fact, this is
a process of learning; learning occurs actively and consciously
through explicit instruction and education.

 Language acquisition is the process through which human gain

the ability to be aware of language and to understand it as well as
to produce and use words and sentences to communicate.
However, second language is learning a language after acquiring
the first language. First language acquisition involves acquiring
the native language, speakers are fluent in their first language.
However, it is often difficult to reach a native-like fluency with
the second language.
First Language acquisition
First language acquisition is
children’s acquisition of their
native language.
A subconscious process.
Does not require explicit
instructions or education.
Learners reach native fluency.
It is less complex. Babies learn it
effortlessly.
By birth
Natural
Second Language Learning
Second language learning is
learning a language after
acquiring the mother tongue.
An active and conscious process.
Requires explicit instructions or
education.
Often difficult to reach native-
like fluency.
It is learned actively by studying
grammar rules and many
concepts.
Personal choice.
Could be natural or guided