Overcoming affective barriers to language acquisition in middle age : an appreciative self-study
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Although a great deal has been written on the acquisition of a second language by children and young adults at different stages of development, a gap exists in the literature with respect to older adult language learners. The world is in the midst of an “age quake”, a significant shift to an older demographic. To make up for the shortfall in skilled labour, businesses, and governments recruit professionals from other countries. These older workers often need additional language instruction, and stakeholders investing in their training demand a good return on their investment. An attempt is made in this study to gain an understanding of the complex interrelatedness of factors interfering with foreign language acquisition in older worker learners, some of whom have learning disabilities. These factors, whether physical, cognitive, or social in origin, create affective barriers to learning. This study was undertaken to discover ways to transform personal perspectives of the self as a learner and of the target language by means of cognitive and metacognitive strategies leading to engagement with the target language and accelerated learning. Key words: affect, motivation, older learners, language learners, learning spiral, learning disabilities, learning strategies, learning disabilities
Source: StFX Scholar
Author: Grimshire, Chistine
Institutions: University of Calgary, St. Francis Xavier University
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207951122