Positive Second Language Acquisition Effects

Maybe your students have asked you why they should learn a new language. Granted, it takes time and energy. However, there are several positive second language acquisition effects, too.

Students who want to learn a foreign language tend to be more open-minded and extroverted. You as their teacher can use that to wake their interest for other cultures and help them look at the world with different eyes. Here are three easy steps to include foreign cultures into school classes:

Step one: Ask them if they know in which countries the language is spoken. You can use a world map and pin each country or make a list on the chalkboard. Most languages are only spoken in one or maybe two countries but there are some languages (such as English, French, or Spanish) that are spoken in many countries all over the world due to the colonies and migration in former times.

Step two: Let them tell the class what they know about the countries, their inhabitants and culture. Maybe they have special celebrations (like Chinese New Year) or special dishes (like pasta in Italy or paella in Spain). You can collect those pieces of information on the chalkboard. A mind map would be a good means to bring at least some order into the gathered information.

Step three: Collect ideas of topics for future lessons (e. g. bank holidays in Spain, German traditions, Italian food) using the information on the chalkboard. If students choose their own topics, they are likely to pay attention and be motivated. Maybe they can prepare short presentations on various aspects, alone or in groups.

Among the positive effects of language learning is that students will become more self-confident with growing abilities in another language. They know they can do something many others cannot do. In combination with their waking interest for other cultures, many of them will travel to countries in which their second language is spoken. Thus, they will see more of the world and consequently gain a broader horizon. Often, people who have travelled to several countries are more tolerant and can adapt to new circumstances much more easily than people who have never been abroad.

Employers too like employees who have experiences abroad. So, learning foreign languages and being interested in foreign cultures can be a great help in finding a job.

You see, second language acquisition has many advantages, especially when begun in young years. However, it is often hard to interest students in anything that means hard work over years. So how can you motivate students to learn another language? The best way would be to find a connection between the student’s interests and hobbies and the new language. If a student can see what benefits second language acquisition can bring, s/he is more likely to be motivated enough to put up with all the hard work (memorizing thousands of new words, learning new grammar, writing tests, …). Do not forget that some students need constant motivation or else they will quit learning languages again.