BIL 3093 Second Language Acquisition

Semester 3 2014/2015
Title: Entry 1
Consider your own language learning experience. Was it second
language learning or foreign language learning, or both?

PREPARED BY :
NGUI YEW LOONG D20131063480
PROGRAM : ISMP TESL
GROUP : A
LECTURER : DR.NORAINI ZULKEPLI

Title: Consider your own language learning experience. Was it second language
learning or foreign language learning, or both?
Based on my understanding, any other language learned or acquired by a person in
addition to their native language(L1) is known as the second language. The first language learned
by a baby is his or her mother tongue. My second language is English. Learning English as the
second language is the study of the English by non-native speakers in the English speaking
environment, where the environment may be a country in which English is the mother tongue,
while it also refers to particular methods to language teaching planned for the non-native
speakers(Lee Gunderson, 2009). For instance, a Japanese student who studies English in
Australia, in this situation English is his second language as he is always exposed to English as
there are many native speakers in his study environment. Next, learning English as foreign
language is the study of the English by non-native learners in a place or area where English is
normally not the main local medium of communication(Lee Gunderson, 2009). For instance, a
Japanese student who studies English in Japan can say that English is a foreign language to him
or her as he is in a place where everyone is speaking Japanese.

In my own experience, learning English was initially learning a foreign language. This is
because I always spoke Mandarin with my parents. During the conversation with my teachers and
teacher in primary school, I hardly spoke English. Moreover, I seldom mingled with the people
with other races. There were no friends speaking English with me. English was not very
significant to me in my experience.

As I grew up, it gradually became learning the second language. I appreciated the
opportunity to speak English with secondary English teachers. Most of my secondary teachers
encouraged me to converse more in English so undeniably the school is the only place that I
could improve the language especially grammar and vocabulary. I was exposed to more English
storybooks, studying materials and movies when I studied in secondary school. I started to mingle
with friends of different races. My parents also encouraged me as they realized the importance of
English in the society nowadays. Now, I always do my best to speak English with my course
mates, friends and lecturers in the university. Thus, English is my second language now.

When I become an ESL teacher, I will carry out interesting activities to boost their
interest of learning English such as Tongue Twister, watching movie and Word Puzzle and make
sure all students in an ESL classroom are involved. In the activities or lessons, I will provide as

many concrete examples as possible when teaching abstract concepts. For example, when
teaching a principle of grammar to an ESL student, give examples of how the principle is used in
actual conversation. I speak only English in the classroom as it is extremely important to get the
students comfortable with English. I should gently direct the conversation back to English when
they speak in their own native language.

Reference list:

Census data revisited. (n.d.). Retrieved from North Central Regional Educational
Laboratory website,
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li7lk12.htm
Census data revisited. (n.d.). Retrieved from Art Corvelay, eHow Contributor of
http://www.ehow.com/how_6689550_good-esl-teacher.html
Lee Gunderson, ESL (ELL) Literacy Instruction(2009). A Guidebook to Theory and
Practice, (2nd ed). Routledge.