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Assignment: Second Language Acquisition: General Information

This document provides instructions for an assignment on second language acquisition. Students are asked to write a 5-page essay discussing the differing views of Krashen and Swain on the role of input versus output in language learning. Krashen believes that acquisition happens primarily through input, while Swain argues that output and language production are also important for learning. Students must discuss other SLA theories, evaluate the two perspectives in this broader context, and draw conclusions on reconciling the opposing views. The assignment must follow formatting guidelines and be submitted through the specified procedure.

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Andrea Castillo
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
238 views

Assignment: Second Language Acquisition: General Information

This document provides instructions for an assignment on second language acquisition. Students are asked to write a 5-page essay discussing the differing views of Krashen and Swain on the role of input versus output in language learning. Krashen believes that acquisition happens primarily through input, while Swain argues that output and language production are also important for learning. Students must discuss other SLA theories, evaluate the two perspectives in this broader context, and draw conclusions on reconciling the opposing views. The assignment must follow formatting guidelines and be submitted through the specified procedure.

Uploaded by

Andrea Castillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment - SLA

ASSIGNMENT:
SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

GENERAL INFORMATION:

This assignment consists of reflecting in pairs on the question below and has to fulfil
the following conditions:

- Length: 5 pages (without including cover, index or appendices –if there are any-).
- Type of font: Arial or Times New Roman.
- Size: 11.
- Line height: 1.5.
- Alignment: Justified.

The assignment has to be done in this Word document and has to fulfil the rules of
presentation and edition, as for quotes and bibliographical references which are
detailed in the Study Guide.

Also, it has to be submitted following the procedure specified in the “Subject


Evaluation” document. Sending it to the tutor’s e-mail is not permitted.

In addition to this, it is very important to read the assessment criteria, which can be
found in the “Subject Evaluation” document.

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Assignment - SLA

Assignment:

According to Swain,

...producing the target language may be the trigger that forces the learner to
pay attention to the means of expression needed in order to successfully convey
his or her own intended meaning.
(Swain 1985: 249)

In Swain's view, learners need not only input, but output: they need to use language in order to
learn it. Krashen, however, as recently as 2009, stated that:

Research done over the last three decades has shown that we acquire
language by understanding what we hear and read. The ability to
produce language is the result of language acquisition, not the cause.

Forcing students to speak English will not improve their ability to


speak English. (Korea Times, 2009).

“Is it possible to reconcile these two seemingly opposite views as to what constitutes second
language acquisition or ‘learning’, as Swain puts it? Or do the two views represent two
extremes of both theory and practice?”

Guidelines: To answer this question in essay form, you will need to refer to
alternative concepts of acquisition and learning proposed by other theorists, judge
them in relation to these two apparent extremes of input versus output, and then try
to draw some conclusions. You must ensure that both Krashen and Swain are
discussed within the broader framework of SLA theory, and thus demonstrate that
you understand the general field.

Important: you have to write your personal details and the subject name on the
cover (see the next page). The assignment that does not fulfil these conditions
will not be corrected. You have to include the assignment index below the cover.

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Assignment - SLA

Assignment:

Students’ names:

Group:

Date:

Title

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