Abstract: Age factor in Second Language Acquisition has always been a controversial issue. This paper tries to analyze the different performances, advantages and disadvantages in phonetic, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic acquisitions by comparing the characteristics of children, adolescent and adult learners in Second Language Acquisition, and to explore the relationship between second language learners and the age, and the “optimal age” in second language learning. Combined with the characteristics of learners at different ages in social-psychology, cognitive ability, affective factor and neurology, this paper puts forward different strategies for learners at different ages so as to grasp the different critical periods in Second Language Acquisition, which will help language learners get better achievements.

Keywords: Second Language Acquisition; age factor; Critical Period Hypothesis

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review...1

  2.1 Critical Period Hypothesis

  2.2 Critical Period in Second Language Acquisition

3. Characteristics of Learners at Different Ages in Second Language Acquisition...2

  3.1 Characteristics of Children Learners

  3.2 Characteristics of Adolescents

  3.3 Characteristics of Adults

4. Explanations for the Differences in Learner’s Ages..4

  4.1 Neurological Differences

  4.2 Social-psychological Differences

  4.3 Cognitive Differences

  4.4 Affective Differences

5. Strategies for Learners at Different Ages in Second Language Acquisition.6

  5.1 Strategies for Children Learners

  5.2 Strategies for Adolescents

  5.3 Strategies for Adults

6. Conclusion

Bibliography

Acknowledgements