Who Are the Second Language Learners?

 Second language learners are individuals who are learning a language that is not their first language. These learners can be found all around the world, in almost every country. They speak a variety of languages, such as Africans, Mandarin, or Zulu, and have varying degrees of education. Additionally, they possess different personalities, learning styles, and reasons for studying a language.


To better understand these language learners, they can be divided into two groups: the age group and the proficiency level group. Let's take a closer look at each of these sub-groups and some important factors that need to be considered.


Age Group


The age group is divided into three categories: children, adolescents, and adults. Children are defined as persons from 1 to 12 years of age (including pre-adolescents). Adolescents are persons from 12 to 20 years of age, while adults are persons 20 years and older. Each age group has its own unique biological, cognitive, and social factors that need to be considered when teaching them a second language.


Proficiency Level Group


The proficiency level group is divided into three categories: beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners of English. Beginner level learners are persons with little to no knowledge of the language and cannot communicate easily. Intermediate level learners are persons with an adequate level of communication and language skills and can communicate with relative ease at a social level. Advanced level learners are persons with a superior level of communication and language skills and can communicate with great ease at social and academic levels.


In conclusion, second language learners are diverse individuals who come from different backgrounds and have different reasons for learning a language. It's important to understand the unique factors that need to be considered when teaching them, including their age and proficiency level. By doing so, educators can create effective language learning strategies that will help their students succeed.





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