Overcoming barriers to reaching nativelikeness in adult second language acquisition
This thesis examines the complex questions of what the obstacles are to becoming nativelike and how they can be overcome. Questions for framing the literature review are developed by means of a down-to-earth preliminary case study of a nativelike French learner of English. The subsequent literature review focuses on key issues such as the supply of input, attention to input, output practise opportunities, attention to output, identity, and learning motivation. An 'ideal' model for reaching nativelikeness is established for further investigation. More specifically, five conditions for overcoming barriers to reaching nativelikeness are hypothesised. In order to test these five conditions, an investigation is reported into the learning of Mandarin by a cohort of undergraduate students of Mandarin at a British university. Using carefully constructed interview questions and questionnaires, details were gathered of their knowledge, approach and attitude to learning, and how they lived during their year abroad in China. Their nativelikeness was judged by independent monolingual Chinese listeners. The main findings are that there are different learning obstacles in the process of L2 learning for different learners,
Su, Yanling
Overcoming barriers to reaching nativelikeness in adult second language acquisition. This thesis examines the complex questions of what the obstacles are to becoming nativelike and how they can be overcome. Questions for framing the literature review are developed by means of a down-to-earth preliminary case study of a nativelike French learner of English. The subsequent literature review focuses on key issues such as the supply of input, attention to input, output practise opportunities, attention to output, identity, and learning motivation. An 'ideal' model for reaching nativelikeness is established for further investigation. More specifically, five conditions for overcoming barriers to reaching nativelikeness are hypothesised. In order to test these five conditions, an investigation is reported into the learning of Mandarin by a cohort of undergraduate students of Mandarin at a British university. Using carefully constructed interview questions and questionnaires, details were gathered of their knowledge, approach and attitude to learning, and how they lived during their year abroad in China. Their nativelikeness was judged by independent monolingual Chinese listeners. The main findings are that there are different learning obstacles in the process of L2 learning for different learners,
overcoming barrier reach adult_second language_acquisition examines complex question obstacle become overcome questions frame literature_review develop mean down earth preliminary case_study french learner_english subsequent literature_review focus key_issue supply input attention input output practise opportunity attention output identity learn motivation ideal model reach establish investigation specifically condition overcome barrier reach hypothesise order_test condition investigation report learning mandarin cohort undergraduate_student mandarin british university using carefully construct interview question questionnaire detail gather knowledge attitude learning live year abroad china judge independent monolingual chinese listener main_finding different learn obstacle process learn different learner