Age Factor in Foreign Language Acquisition

Abstract

The paper focuses on some theoretical issues concerning age factor in second language

acquisition. It critically reviews several ideas on age factor, the main attention being paid to the

two issues of "nature-nurture" and "critical/sensitive period." It concludes with practical suggestions

for the improvement of the current TEFL situations in Korean school systems. The issue of age is one of the perennial topics in the study of first and second

language acquisition. It has played an important role in making educational decisions

concerning when second language instruction should be introduced in the formal school

settings.

Although no definite answers have been proposed, many studies regard the following

questions as the two main research topics regarding age factor:

(1) Are younger learners better than older learners in second language acquisition?

(2) Do sensitive period(s) exist in second language acquisition?