Key Indicators of Positive Language Acquisition

Is language acquisition possible to all ages?

Before I discuss to you the key indicators of positive language acquisition, let me first clear a certain issue on language acquisition. Language acquisition is the process of learning a new language – it is either a first language or a second language respectively. It has been a widespread question across the globe if language acquisition is possible to all ages. The human brain is responsible on storing sounds, words or any stimuli that are recognized by our mind as something meaningful; otherwise, if the brain cannot process anything that is fed by the human senses, it would just be considered as non-meaningful stimuli that externally, we often ignore; that is why when a person just heard a strange language, it would sound like a noise because the brain cannot process the stimuli, and thus no meaning is being transmitted. However, the brain would not just settle for not recognizing these stimuli, it would signal the memory to temporarily store it into the short-term memory; in cases like this, if the person happens to hear those words again, the brain would technically look for other context clues according to his knowledge, and generate a meaning which we call impression. This phenomenon happens to every human regardless of his age and thus acquiring a new language is possible to all ages.

What are the key indicators of positive Language Acquisition?

Language acquisition a process unique to everyone. The length of time a person could acquire language will depend on some factors like the environment, frequency of using the language and the ability of the brain to process new information. However, if you are learning a new language, there are key indicators that would help you determine if you are in the right track of positive language acquisition.

1. Reduced Anxiety

Using a new language to communicate could actually make you feel anxious all the time. It would make you become insecure whether you have said the right word or not. However, anxiety would not help you mastering a new language. It could actually slow down the process. Thus, if your anxiety is reduced, that would mean, you are having a positive response to the language acquisition. The concept of ‘mistake is the best teacher’ is applicable to this indicator. If anxiety is reduced or completely eliminated, that would make you comfortable using the language whether you are saying it correctly or not. By doing so, you will be guided and once you have an experience incorporated into it, remembering by association would be of great help.

2. Correct Feedback

Feedback is the output of giving and receiving information. In language acquisition, correct feedback is not necessarily through sentences, sometimes it could be the reaction. Feedback could be responding to the humor or to the tone, severity and veracity of the statement. In this case, if you got the exact emotion to respond with the information given, you will then go back to your vocabulary bank and try to respond according to the category you put in each word. Example, if it is funny, you will recall the words associated to it, from there you can construct your sentence.

3. Survive a Day

Surviving a day in a place where you don’t know the medium of communication could be very tough. You have to buy foods, use their transportation and even business transactions. Surviving a day could be a taste of hell, but if you are into learning a new language, it would give you a variety of experience to use the language in the way you know. That would make you sharper in choosing the right word according to your transactions. So, just get out and survive the day, for sure when you get home, you have tons of new discoveries on the new language you have been learning.

How would I know that I already mastered the language?

Since language is dynamic, it should be used all the time. You would know it that you already mastered the language if words go out from your mouth smoothly and the word “what?” is almost out of the scene. Each language has its own unique structures, so one parameter too that you would know you already mastered the language is not translating every word from your native tongue to the new language you are practicing.

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