The effect of instruction on second language acquisition is limited

Target audience: intermediate learners.

The findings regarding the efficacy of instruction on Second language acquisition is mixed. Counterintuivitely, instruction is not always helpful.

  • Instruction sometimes has no effect on acquisition.

    It cannot allow learners to skip steps in developmental sequences (see Learners’ output proceeds along predictable paths).

  • Instruction can sometimes slow down acquisition.

  • Instruction can sometimes speed acquisition and allow learners to reach higher levels.

The circumstances under which instruction is effective are an active and controversial area of research.

References

Notes mentioning this note

Second language acquisition
Various theories have been advanced to explain how second [[Language languages]] are acquired. Each of these seeks to account for...

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