KSU FACULTY of EDUCATION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
FLE 208 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
SPRING 2023
MIDTERM EXAM
Watch the TED Talk "The linguistic genius of babies" by Patricia Kuhl and answer these
questions:
a) Babies under 12 months old are considered "citizens of the world" since they are able to identify all
of the sounds in every language on earth.
b) Babies gradually lose the ability to distinguish between speech sounds from all languages by the
time they are 1 year old and focus only on the speech sounds in their native language
c) Cultural- bound listeners are able to recognize sounds in their own tongue but are unable to
distinguish sounds in other languages.
d) Babies unconsciously record linguistic statistics as they listen to their parents speak. They absorb
the linguistic structure.
e) Babies learn language through interaction with adults, actual conversation from real people, not
from audio or television. This is about social brain.
f) In order to understand what occurs in babies' brains when they are exposed to television rather
than humans, researchers studied the brains of babies with a new machine named
magnetoencephalography.
1. According to Stephen Krashen, an important linguist, language acquisition occurs through
comprehensible input. Krashen claims that the development of the target language is
inevitable if the Input Hypothesis is correctly understood in language learning. He argues that
language acquisition happens gradually when students are exposed to useful and interesting
inputs such as visuals, realia, real life situation etc. Speaking ability occur in time by
understanding the message rather than grammar teaching, drills and exercises, computers.
He cites three crucial elements in the learning process. These include anxiety, motivation,
and self-esteem.Krashen also emphasizes the importance of a low-anxiety environment for
language acquisition to take place. He argues that learners who feel relaxed and comfortable
are more likely to engage in meaningful interactions and take risks in using the language,
which in turn facilitates their language development. In fact, as a language learner, I believe
that in a environment where anxiety is low for language acquisition to occur, learners can
express themselves better. Not afraid of making mistakes, not afraid to take risks, and
engaging in meaningful and real-life interactions will accelerate the development process of
students.
2.
KSU FACULTY of EDUCATION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
FLE 208 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
SPRING 2023
Answer : C. When a student learns a second language while also developing their first language, this
is known as additive bilingualism.
Answer: C. A nonnative language can be learned outside of the setting where it is typically spoken,
and this is known as foreign language acquisition.
Answer: D. Positive evidence is a considerate input that students acquire about the target language
itself in a natural linguistic setting. Language similarities help second language learners to learn a
second language.
KSU FACULTY of EDUCATION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
FLE 208 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
SPRING 2023
Answer: E. Krashen states that the affective filter plays a facilitating role in second language
acquisition. If a student is blocking the learning process, language cannot be learned. A learner can
be mentally prepared to learn, or they might be hindering this process in some way such as
motivation, anxiety, self esteem.
Answer: A. The natural approach is based on the theory that language acquisition occurs only when
students receive comprehensible input. Learners are exposed to a wide variety of vocabulary and
structures. Errors made by learners are rarely corrected. Learners encounter native speakers and
interact with them. However, they do not feel pressure to use the target language correctly from the
very beginning.
KSU FACULTY of EDUCATION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
FLE 208 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
SPRING 2023
