Factors Affecting Language Acquisition Padlet by Cadin Brooks

Cognitive Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:02:41 UTC

It is a known fact that as children get older, it becomes harder for them to learn and retain information when it comes to learning a new language. Learning any new language at a young age is fairly easy because brains are like "sponges". For those who learn it early, it becomes very beneficial for them and their overall cognitive factors. On the contrary, those who learn it later struggle to retain it and have to work a lot harder in order to become fluent in it. With EL's specifically, learning English broadens what they know, as well as what they are able to understand which is related directly to the cognitive factors.

Linguistic Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:03:46 UTC

The linguistic factors that have an effect on students are syntax and vocabulary. The more vocabulary the student has access to and knows, the more they can expand on and understand. This also applies to syntax. If a student has good use of syntax, their work will be correct and their grades will be good. Understanding syntax is crucial for any language and goes beyond the education system. It is imperative for everything that they do. When they lack vocabulary, syntax, or both, it hinders their understanding of certain things.

Physical Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:04:31 UTC

There are a variety of physical factors that can have an affect on language acquisition. Some factors include trauma, brain development, and age. Just like with the other factors, these can have both positive and negative affects. It is a proven fact that children who experience trauma from a young age are effected cognitively by it. PTSD slows down brain development which can lead to behavior problems in the classroom and a lack of overall understanding. Age is also indicative of language acquisition because of how far along the brain is developed.

Affective Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:06:38 UTC

Affective factors include a variety of things that affect students both on the inside and on the outside. Social circumstances, self-esteem, friendships, and other outside forces all have an affect whether that be negative or positive. Positive factors can help boost self-confidence for the student when it comes to their school performance and grades. It can also help with the social aspects of their life. On the contrary, if a student has low self-esteem and feels like an outcast in school, it will have a very big affect in a negative way. This is why it is crucial to implement certain things in a classroom as a teacher, even if that means you are the only positive thing for them. It only takes one person to make the world of a difference for a student.

Socio-cultural Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:07:26 UTC

Because of the different beliefs that come along with cultures, it can be challenging for those individuals when it comes socio-cultural factors. For instance, there could be teenager who moves to the States and starts at a new school and overtime makes friends. Like teens do, their friends want to hang out outside of school. While this is not an issue for their friends, it is an issue for them because their culture background and upbringing does not agree with that. Their parents will say no and in turn this can cause conflict between the parent and the teenager because the teen wants to fit in, but they also want to respect and obey their culture. Social participation is a huge factor in EL's learning and social processes and because culture backgrounds are so different, this can put more pressure on them.

Political Factors

cbrooks0023 — 2023-10-30 20:08:01 UTC

Political factors that affect language acquisition are things like classroom management and structure, school funding, local and state policies and procedures that must be followed, and so much more. For EL students specifically, being at a school in a good neighborhood with excessive amounts of funding, they have access to better resources to help them learn the language. Those schools are able to purchase more curriculums, hire translators/aids to assist the EL's, etc. On the other hand, EL's who are in Title 1 schools in low-income neighborhoods who lack funding do not have these same opportunities. This can have a huge impact on these EL's and that is why there is seen to be such a significant difference in them depending on what kind of school they go to.