Welcome

English(P.K)
Unit:3
Lesson:1
Topic : Language acquisition & Language
Learning
After completing the session you will be able to :

➢ What is first language & second language.

➢ How children learn languages.
➢ differentiate between acquisition and learning
➢ describe the difference between first language acquisition
and second language learning.
➢ describe similarities between first language and second
language learning .
First language: Language that a child learn as its
mother tongue is called the first language.(e.g-
Bangla)

Second language: Any language that a child learn

after the mother tongue is called the second
language(e.g-for us English)
 Language Acquisition & Learning

✓ Language Acquisition is the manner of learning a language through interest. It

provides the student with the practical knowledge of the language. Similarly, language
learning focuses on providing theoretical knowledge of a language. Language is the
primary form of communication that humans use. However, language is not something
that is taught to children. A child will pick up his/her native language just by being
around other people, mainly their families. This is called language acquisition. The
child acquires the language without any conscious thought.
•
✓ Language learning, on the other hand, is a structured learning of a language. This is the
process that most people follow when trying to learn another language. Here the
student is made to study lists of vocabulary, as well as sentence structure and grammar.
This is the most common method used in schools and language learning centers.
 How children learn Bangla
❑ Children spend a long time only listening to Bangla (up to a year). They begin speaking
Bangla by making sounds, then saying words, then putting words together to make
sentences. They learn to read and write much later.
❑ Children hear Bangla around them all of the time (at home, on TV, in the street).

❑ Children are very motivated to learn Bangla. They need things, they want information,
and they want to be friends with people.

❑ Parents don‘t usually teach grammar to their children. Children work out‘ the rules
slowly as they learn the language. Children imitate, but they are very creative too.
❑ Differences between learning & acquisition

Learning Acquisition
• Artificial • Natural
• Technical • Personal
• Priority on the written language • Priority on the spoken language
• Theory (language analysis) • Practice (language in use)
• Deductive teaching (rule driven; top- • Inductive coaching (rule discovery;
down) bottom-up)
• Preset syllables • Improvised activities
• Activities ABOUT the language • Activities IN the language
• Focus on form • Focus on communication
• Produces knowledge • Produces an ability
 Similarities between language
acquisition & learning

✓ People generally learn their own language (mother

tongue) through listening and speaking first. Then
they learn reading and writing. This is the common
order of language acquisition and learning.
Characteristics of Acquisition /learning 1st language

1. An instinct, triggered by birth.

2. Very rapid.
3. Natural
4. Acquired without too much input from learner‘s surroundings.
5. Children spend several years listening to language.
6. Almost everyone acquires.
Characteristics of Acquisition /learning 2nd language

1. A personal choice requires motivation.

2. Never as good as a native speaker, though good
competence can be achieved.
3. Knowledge is gained by conscious study on the part of
the learner.
4. Learners have fewer opportunities to learn language
authentically.
Characteristics of learning both 1st& 2nd language

1.Learners need comprehensible input and opportunities to learn

language in context.
2. A learner's proficiency can vary across situations.
3. The learner uses context clues, prior knowledge, and interaction to
comprehend language.
4. Age is an important factor affecting proficiency.
 Questions related to the lesson
a) What is learning?
b) What is acquisition?
c) How do you differentiate between language acquisition
and language learning?
d) Do you think the differences between language
acquisition and language learning is watertight?
e) Are there any similarities between language learning and
language acquisition?
f) How is first language acquisition different from second
language acquisition
g) What is 1st language & 2nd language?
Stay safe &
Thanks to
all…