Curtain & Dahlberg: Chpt 1

This chapter focused the characteristics of young learners, such as cognitive characteristics, learning styles and developmental characteristics. The selection also talked about certain classroom conditions and factors affecting second language acquisition such as meaningful and interesting input and the nature of, and time allotted for instruction.

While I found the section on "Classroom Considerations" to be interesting, I felt as though much of what these experienced teachers were saying wouldn't apply to many foreign language programs. It seemed as though they taught in schools where foreign language programs began in kindergarten and were continued throughout. Most primary schools that I have been in are lucky to get foreign language programs at all. When I went to school, we weren't introduced to foreign language until 7th grade.