年龄差异影响外语学习的研究述评

综观各种关于年龄差异影响外语学习的研究,可以概括出不同年龄在外语学习速度、口音纯正度和语言能力方面存在的差异性,而通过分析产生这些差异的生理原因、社会原因和认知原因,可以得出以下结论:(1)儿童只在听说方面略显优势;(2)年长儿童优于年幼儿童;(3)成人具有课堂学习外语的较大优势。因此,在外语教学和学习中,必须发挥不同年龄群体的学习优势,有针对性地对听说读写有所侧重,选择适合不同年龄认知特点的教学策略,并制定科学的外语教学计划。

Literature Review of Age Effects on Foreign Language Learning

By reviewing the literature of the effects of different ages on foreign language learning,it can be concluded that different ages have different language learning effects on the learners' learning rate,the acquisition of nativespeaker proficiency and the learners' language achievement.And the reasons can be explained from the biological,social and cognitive aspects.The conclusions are as the following:(1) The children have only the slight advantage on listening and speaking;(2) The elder children are better than the younger children;(3) The adults have advantage under the formal instruction circumstances.So foreign language teaching should make use of the age advantages in strategy use and policy making.