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com/
Blog entries written by Prof. Jonathan Acua


How Important is the Environment in
Lanaguage Acquisition?

Environment is indeed a vital component in language acquisition. Keeping in mind
that the environment plays an important role in the learning process, it potentializes or
can even inhit learning.
Take the example of what we call today the silent period. Whether this is applied
to adult learners or just to young learners, all of us when confronted with a second
language learning, we all face a period in which we are just receptive (mere listeners)
and not productive (active speakers). In Chomskys words, the learner is seeing how
language related to thinking (cognition), comprehension (cognitive decoding of
messages), and communication (cognitive encoding of messages) (Chomsky 1980, cited
by Cook 1993). All of this happens within our LAD (language acquisition device) without
being aware of what is going on. Our silent periods are just a preparation time in which
our brains are getting ready to use the tools the environment is making available for the
learners. Somehow, all of us when learning a second language will find the right moment
to speak. But likewise-, this period needs not to be spoiled by an instructor who is
pushing learners to produce when they are not ready yet.
Another example is Ashers Total Physical Response (1965), which continues being
used in bilingual preschool education and as a communicative resource in Communicative
Language Teaching (CLT) learning environments. TPR is a so-called reflection of how
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Blog entries written by Prof. Jonathan Acua
motherese language instruction takes place at home. Being the infant unable to speak
and communicate, s/he basically responds physically to commands that s/he later on will
be able to utter. In teaching settings where students barely understand the target
language, instructors will make use of TPR to foster the Silent Period before real
production takes place, and while the students interlanguage is being developed,
modified, and consolidated. TPR as a an element within ones teaching environment
makes use of concrete referents (such as realia) to help students learn the language.
In conclusion, the environment in language acquisition is vital for the learner. If
the environment also provides a nice, cozy, and relaxing atmosphere for learning
(Krashens Affective Filter), students will feel confident and ready to come out of their
silent period and communicate openly.


Asher, J. (1969, Jan.). The Total Physical Response to Second Language Learning. The
Modern Language Journal. Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 3-17. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/322091?uid=2134&uid=376302783&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=376302773&uid=60&purch
ase-type=article&accessType=none&sid=21103952993067&showMyJstorPss=false&seq=1&showAccess=false

Cook, V. (1993). Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. Hampshire: Palgrave-
Macmillan




To fully comprehend the scope of this teaching reflections, it is highly advisable that
the following topics must be expanded further:
The Silent Period in Language Learning
Ashers Total Physical Response
CLT (Communicative Language Teaching)
Krashens Affective Filter
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Blog entries written by Prof. Jonathan Acua


Professor Jonathan Acua-Solano
ELT Trainer, Instructor & Curriculum Developer based in Costa Rica
Active NCTE Costa Rica Member
Resource Teacher & Curricular Developer at CCCN
Senior ELT Instructor at Universidad Latina, Costa Rica, since 1998
Contact Information:
Twitter @jonacuso
Email: jonacuso@gmail.com


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Article published on Sunday, May 4, 2014

How to quote this blog entry:

Acua, J. (2014, May 4). How Important is the Environment in Language Learning?
Retrieved from Reflective Online Teaching Website: http://reflective-online-
teaching.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-important-is-environment-in.html
http://reflective-online-teaching.blogspot.com/
Blog entries written by Prof. Jonathan Acua