What i found most interesting in this chapter can be seen in the title. I would like to discuss in more depth the Critical Period Hypothesis. In which there is a critical period for L2 acquisition. From my experience I have always believed that the earlier a person starts learning a langauge the better that person will be able to communicate. After reading about the study where the older adults were performing better, on tests, than younger students in the early stages of learning dutch. I found the statement that older adults use different ways to learn a language like metalinguistic knowledge. One thing I thought about, was that if adults use different techniques to learn an L2. Shouldn't they be evaluated differently on their L2 ability. It just seems more logical to me.
Overall this chapter placed the importance on many factors that influence L2 acquisition and that they are all related. To me this seems to be a recurring theme through out the course of this class. I first realized after analyzing and reading all the approaches to teaching.
Another interesting part of this chapter was personality traits, anxiety in particular does not necessarily have a negative consequence on a persons achievement on L2 acquisition. Instead in some students who listen and who do not interact as often can still attain high achievement in L2.
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There are a lot of studies out there that indicate that younger is better.
There is some evidence that teenagers are the best learners if they are interested and motiviated. Big if
Adults have the most experience in learning... but the most difficulty learning the native accent....
Any one of these could ber a star student and a superior student.
There are so many variables...
Excellent point about testing adults and children differently!
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