The Impact of “The Critical Period Hypothesis” Within Age Factors on the Learning Ability of SLA
Abstract
With the accelerated development of globalization, second language acquisition (SLA) has become a crucial issue in the study of language education research. In the recent years, the impact of individual difference on the SLA process has been a matter of great concern, including age, sex, character, cognitive style, study motivation, affective factor and so on. All these factors can influence the learners’ choices of language study tactics and their study effectiveness. The article summarizes research results on the influence of age on SLA learning ability, discuss the critical period hypothesis and relevant controversial views in depth, in order to provide theoretical support and direction guidance for future research. All in all, Despite the existence of different views and disputes, the “CPH” proposed by Penfield and Roberts and Lenneberg's subsequent research, to a certain extent, all offer important insights and thinking on understanding the influence of age on SLA. Educators can tailor their teaching base on learner’s age and needs, with a focused approach to promoting effective learning language.
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