First Language Deficiencies Effect on Second Language Acquisition

First Language Deficiencies Effect on Second Language Acquisition

Introduction

This essay documents the process of finding a research topic, deciding the sources, developing a research strategy and summarizing references. This essay will include highlighting the key words that could be useful for the research and identify which of the key words turns out to be most useful. The paper will include annotated bibliography and evaluate each source used in it.

Problem Statement

The deficiencies in the first language (L1) have a significant impact upon second language acquisition. The research aims to focus the students as the target audience. Hence, the research will explore of how different symptoms of the first language incapability and limitations can hamper the students' learning of the second language (L2). These include problems in understanding, speaking, writing and comprehension errors or deficiencies that are transferred from L1 to L2 (Swain, Brooks & Tocalli-Beller, 2002)

Symptom One

The deficiency in the first language of the students can affect the second language learning because the first and the second language are different. The lack of similarity between L1 and L2 results in negative transfer during SLA.

Symptom Two

The deficiencies in the first language are often because of dyslexia. Hence, these deficiencies will ultimately be transferred to the SLA. This will affect the speaking, writing and comprehension skill related to the second language during the second language acquisition (SLA).

Symptom Three

The deficiency and incapability of the first language of the students is because of the lack of confidence and motivation with which the students speaks the language. Hence, this affects the second language learning and faults in L1 affects the pace and effectiveness of the Second Language Acquisition (SLA) process (Guilloteaux & Dörnyei, 2008)

Research Context

The research paper aims to focus the attitude and behavior that affects the language learning. The limitations and deficiencies in learning one language are most likely to affect the procedures of learning other languages. The research paper will also focus on how other individuals can affect the motivation of learning languages of a student. These individuals include teachers and other schoolmates. The research paper will also cater of how social interaction can influence the effect of L1 deficiencies upon L2 learning.

Research Questions

The three questions that the research aims to focus include,

Can the affect of L1 deficiencies upon SLA be minimized?

What is the role of teachers in motivating students to learn and improve the second language learning?

How can interaction with peer students reduce the affect of L1 during SLA?

Literature Search

Finding key words that are perfect representative of the problem is an important task. The key words actually set the direction of the research conducted. The seven most frequently used terms and words for this research include

First language

Second language

First language deficiencies

Second language acquisition

Students' motivation by language limitations

Language fluency

Language improvement

Resources

The two databases that were used for the research includes Academic Search Complete and Modern Languages Association (MLA).

Modifications

The keywords discussed above were useful. However, two more key words were added to the list for ...