Influence of L1 on L2 Acquisition on 3-5 Years Old English Language Learners in the US

Influence of L1 on L2 Acquisition on 3-5 Years Old English Language Learners in the US
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The present systematic review seeks to investigate the role of the first language in second language acquisition among 3-5-year-old English language learners in the United States. Using a rigorous search strategy and inclusion criteria, the review identified nine studies that explored the relationship between L1 and L2 acquisition, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of L1 use in L2 education. The results indicate that L1 can serve as a bridge between L2 and learners' prior experiences and improve vocabulary acquisition, particularly for low-proficiency students. However, L1 interference can also hinder L2 mastery, particularly in morphology, syntax, and phonology. Interestingly, bilingual children scored higher in the discourse domain than monolinguals, indicating that exposure to L1 confers an advantage to English learners in narrative skill development. The implications of these findings for educators, researchers, and policymakers are significant in the sense that they emphasize the need to carefully consider the role of L1 in L2 instruction and strike a balance between leveraging its advantages and minimizing its potential disadvantages. The results of the current study provide a valuable foundation for informing evidence-based practices and policies that promote effective second language acquisition and linguistic success for all learners.
Influence of L1 on L2 Acquisition on 3-5 Years Old English Language Learners in the US
Introduction
Technological advancement has made the world a global village. Events happening in one part of the world have a major impact on another part of the same. Because of such changes, people have often found themselves interacting with others from different cultures. Proficiency in more than one language is advantageous in contemporary society as it facilitates intercultural interaction. The need to acquire more than one language has become critical, especially for learners who are seeking to compete on a global scale. Hence, proficiency in only the native language has been viewed as insufficient, especially for individuals seeking to work in a multicultural setting where people speak different languages. In other words, being bilingual has become a vital aspect of becoming a successful professional (Antoniou, 2019). Schools have recognized the need to prepare their learners to operate in a multilingual environment. Bilingualism has therefore become a critical part of the education system in many schools. With the need to teach learners a second language, it is important to examine the role of the first language in the acquisition of the second language. An understanding of the relationship is needed to ensure that teachers tailor their instruction to take advantage of the opportunities and address the challenges that emerge.
Research Question
To investigate the research topic, the following research question will be investigated.
RQ: How does the first language influence the second language acquisition among 3-5 Years Old English Language Learners in the United States? What are the advantages of first language to second l...