🌐 The Process of Acquiring Language

Starting the journey of English language acquisition is like opening a door to endless possibilities. Have you ever thought about how important language is in our lives? It helps us connect with people at work and understand different cultures worldwide. In this article, we'll look into the essential aspects of language acquisition.

Language acquisition is about naturally understanding and using the target language. It's not just about memorizing words and grammar rules; it also involves understanding cultural nuances and expressing oneself effectively. So, how can we help our children best acquire English?

For our students who are new to the language, learning English academically can be challenging. However, language acquisition becomes crucial in building their confidence to use the language socially. The aim is for them to feel comfortable using English in everyday situations, fostering socialization without feeling burdened or held back by language barriers.

Let's focus on the crucial role of exposure in language development, looking beyond classroom instruction. In class, teachers provide exposure to English in various contexts. Exposure, in general, refers to any contact with the language outside the classroom, through talking or writing. Benson (2001) defines outside-of-class language exposure as 'any kind of learning that takes place outside the classroom and involves self-instruction, naturalistic learning, or self-directed naturalistic learning.' The goal of exposure is for learners to produce the language ultimately. If learners only passively encounter English but don't practice using it outside the classroom, they may not learn it appropriately.

To understand English beyond the classroom, consider these practical examples of exposure:

• Listen to English programs on the radio (or YouTube, Spotify).

• Watch English programs and movies.

• Travel to English-speaking countries.

• Talk face to face with English native speakers.

• Use English in real-life situations.

• Surf the internet using English.

• Read English books, magazines, and newspapers (Al-Zoubi, 2018).

In conclusion, let's highlight how exposure and application work together to help acquire proficiency in English. Home support for exposure can be as simple as watching English movies with subtitles, helping children connect words they see and hear. Building real communication using English at home is another good way to apply what they've learned in the classroom.

Benson, P. (2001). Teaching and researching autonomy in language learning. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Al-Zoubi, S.M. (2018). The impact of exposure to English language on language acquisition. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research 5(4):151-162.

Written By: Gabriella (English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher) - gabriella.wu@sph.ac.id