This 32nd collection of students’ pearls of wisdom, laboriously digitised from hand-
Explain whether you agree or disagree with this statement:
“Proficiency in the first language will contribute to proficiency in the second language.”
From Baker, C. (2006). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism (4th ed.).
Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, p. 309.
I don’t agree. The languages may not share any common feather. We cannot use the L1 proficiency to help the L2 to make proficiency equality.
I really support with this statement, but if we want to improve the second we need to demand highly of the first.
Some people know one language only. It may be their mother tongue. Others know more than one language. They may know the first language before the second one.
Exactly, when the students have intensive knowledge in the first language, then that language will contribute to L2 proficiency. We know that we have UG, which is universal grammar in our brain that helps us to acquire L2 more efficiently.
The best way in learning the second language is to do with a connection between both first and second language accordingly. I mean that L1 proficiency is important to SLA or bilingual.
L1 can help students think of critical things in L2. Background knowledge of L1 will encourage students to express their oppinoin in L2 or L1 accurately.
Proficiency is a very good term in terms of language, but I tend to disagree with the statement. In the contrast, sometimes rules in L2 don’t have in L2 and vice versus.
When young learners reach a critical period for language acquisition successfully, that is a good time for them to attain the L2 easily.
When you teach illiterate people, it is very difficult because you have to explain both L1 and L2.
More to come...