Learning Styles and Second Language Acquisition
Introduction and Statement of Purpose
Overview of learning styles and L2 acquisition and
Purpose of report: To identify L2 learning styles and
their effects on language skill development
General theoretical perspectives on learning (cognitive, social, behavioral, etc.).
Learning beliefs, L2 beliefs, and L2 language learning success
Cognitive learning theories and L2 learning -- an overview
Social learning theories and L2 learning -- an overview
Visual versus tactile learning strategies -- ethnicity and achievement
Other theories: Age, cognitive development, maturity, experience
Effects of learner control; use of advance organizers in L2 learning activities, reference to function of memory and experience
Role of text and images (i.e., pictures, graphics) in fostering L2 learning
Visual versus tactile materials, achievement and motivation in L2 learning of English
Beliefs about language learning and their effects on students in L2 programs (culture, course difficulty)
Studies of communicative competence -- various issues related to communicative competence and its impact on the acquisition and learning of a second language, with particular reference to adult learners
Strategies for communicative competence delineated
Need for psychologically rich content in L2 programs as opposed to information exchange paradigm
CLT described and assessed for its efficacy
Difficulty of L2 learning and barriers
Strategies for effective L2 learning, with an emphasis on cognitive strategies
Recommendations for L2 program development and content
Introduction and Statement of Purpose
Contending theories are generally typical of disciplines that attempt to explain multifaceted, complex phenomena. Similarly, as noted by Iskold (2003), research on second language (L2) acquisition reflects the complexity of learning a language other than one's ...