Page 20 - ELG2406 June Issue 490

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Learning a second language as adults

What motivates language acquisition at different stages in life?
Letizia Cinganotto and Giacomo Folinazzo explore the ways
adults learn language.

t is fascinating to witness the development
of a child’s language in the first three
years following birth. On a weekly basis,
Icaretakers can observe a child’s oral
communicative abilities develop from primary
attempts at reproducing sounds, intonation
patterns of joy and silliness, to distinct
syllables, to words, two-word utterances,
simple sentences with grammatical errors, to
complete functional discourse.
It is also very common for a child to
communicate without difficulty in multiple
languages: one language shared with the
father, another with the mother, and yet
another outside the household. The ease
with which a little human is able to learn
and communicate with the code of their
environment for survival and adaptation is an
instant reminder of our genetic predisposition
to deploy this essential ability. Nativists
such as Chomsky have written at length on
the topic of Universal Grammar and the
Language Acquisition Device to account
for the astounding ability of children to so does the language needed to think and triggers an equal reaction with an attitude
acquire their first languages without formal communicate about these new realities. of readiness, that is why immediate and
instructions, and often with little error Children do not choose to learn their first rewarding feedback is particularly important
correction. language, they simply must. On the other for this target group.
When adults learn a second language, hand, adults choose to learn a second Sharing ideas within a community of
the narrative is quite different. We often language. The reasons behind their choice practice can be particularly beneficial with
hear comments such as “I am not good with can vary from personal desire, such as being adults: a good example is provided by the
languages” or “my teacher did not motivate romantically involved with a partner who Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in
me”, or variations of these statements. The speaks another language or moving to a new Europe (EPALE), the European multilingual
struggle with learning a language other country, to a career need such as applying community of adult learners, such as adult
than one’s mother tongue usually causes for a job overseas or requesting a promotion. educators and trainers, guidance and
frustration that can result in lack of interest One may argue that the above-mentioned support staff, researchers and academics,
in pursuing greater competence in the target needs and desires are nonetheless a matter and policymakers. EPALE is funded by
language. On the other hand, every day of survival for the adult as well; however, in the Erasmus+ programme. It is part of the
around the world millions of adults learn a most cases they are a choice and therefore European Union’s strategy to promote more
second language for personal and career- the sense of immediate urgency differs from and better learning opportunities for all
related reasons, with high levels of success. that of a child. adults. EPALE does this by supporting and
One fact is undeniable: adults and children Moreover, adults’ motivation to learn strengthening the adult learning professions.
learn languages differently. Scholars debated a language can be very different from It enables members to connect with and
and researched the topic extensively over teenagers’: they may be pushed by integrative learn from colleagues across Europe,
the last 70 years, and despite the fact that motivation, connected to the need to be through its blog posts, forums, the Partner
dichotomies and categorization are always included into a new community of practice Search tool, complemented with physical
a limiting way of approaching academic for work or study. Therefore, adults can face gatherings.
discourse, there are some comparisons and cognitive limitations, due to neural plasticity: Artificial Intelligence can also provide
differences that might be interesting to although the identification of an age curve to valid input for self-learning to adults,
consider even for those who are not in the second language acquisition is still debated allowing them to practice and reinforce
field of applied linguistics. among scholars, the learning time for adults is their language skills autonomously, with the
Let us consider, for instance, the needs longer, and strong motivation and consistent help of an ‘intelligent’ tutor. The picture
and goals of a child learning a language. effort are crucial. below shows AIDI, an AI-powered machine
Babies are dependent on their caregivers Additionally, there may also be affective created at the University for Foreigners of
for nutrition, health, love, and shelter. limitations, due to the fear of making Perugia by a research group coordinated by
Communicating needs such as hunger, pain, mistakes, to be judged and ‘lose face’. Letizia Cinganotto. AIDI has been designed
discomfort, desire for attention, is a matter of In fact, in adults, anxiety is greater and trained to promote the learning and
survival. As a child grows, cognitive abilities compared to other age groups: Krashen’s teaching of Italian as a second or foreign
develop as well as the understanding of the affective filter and possible competition language: adults can practice their speaking
world; in addition, relationships with people, with younger students can lead to a learning skills through the text-to-speech and voice
and self-awareness advance alongside, and block. Therefore, positive appreciation recognition function. They can also improve
20 June 2024