The effect of age on second language acquisition

Dissertant

Abd Allah, Muhammad Ahmad Adam

Thesis advisor

al-Ansari, Abbas Abd al-Rahman Babakir

University

Omdurman Islamic University

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Department

Department of English Language and Literature

University Country

Sudan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2009

English Abstract

This study intends to investigate the Effect of Age on Second Language Acquisition.

To achieve the objectives of this study the descriptive analytical method was used.

The study contains five chapters; the first chapter is an introduction.

It stated the problem of the study, the importance of the study, the objectives, the questions, hypothesis and the limitations of the study.

Two hypotheses were stated in this chapter : -There are differences between children who start learning the Second Language before the age of twelve and those who begin later.

- Children who start learning the Second Language early will have sufficient time for exposure to Second Language.

Chapter two is for the related literature review and is divided into three parts.

The first part explains the Effect of Age and some effective considerations.

Part two is for age and different aspects of SLA.

Part three considers input, interaction and SLA.

Chapter three presents the methodology of the study.

One device that has proven useful is the grammar test.

The subjects of the study were (120 participants) chosen on purpose from one educational stage, Khartoum International Preparatory School (KIPS) and Ahfad Secondary School which represent group (A), because they have been exposed to Second Language (English) since Kindergarten while Group (B) students of Alrayan Private Secondary School for Girls–Aldrawshab, has been exposed to Second Language (English) since the fifth Grade of the Basic Level.

The entire participants for this study are students of the third year of Secondary School.

The data of the study were obtained through grammar test.

(SPSS) the statistical program was used to calculate the gathered data.

Chapter four includes data analysis, discussion of results on the light of hypothesis and findings.

Finally chapter five has been devoted to the summary of findings, implications of the study, recommendations and suggestions for further studies.

The most important findings in this study showed a high degree of correlation between age and the length of exposure to Second Language Acquisition.

As for the students’ score in the test, group A [Kips and Ahfad Secondary School] have scored the highest grades in the test in contrast with their peers in group B.

The researcher suggested some recommendations.

The most important ones are : 1/ Second Language Program should be started early.

2/ Children should be motivated and have favorable attitudes towards the Second Language and the Second Language speakers.

3/ Teachers should be trained to meet the needs of young learners.

4/ Teachers should provide learners opportunities of uninhibited practice.

Main Subjects

Educational Sciences

Topics

• Education
• Learning
• Second language learning
• Sudan
• Khartoum
• English language

No. of Pages

108

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-363417