SLA is as much a product of learner-internal as of contextual, learner-external factors but the latter have been relatively underinvestigated in mainstream SLA research. This research focuses on German-speaking pupils learning English in four different educational contexts (n=4x26), representing four discrete points on the traditional foreign language - second language context continuum: a regular German school near Munich (Germany), the European School (ES) in Munich, the ES in Brussels (Belgium), and the ES in Culham (UK). Two dependent variables have been studied: global L2 proficiency and L2 social-psychological dispositions. The study reveals significant differences in global L2 proficiency amongst the four contexts. The results suggest that a high functional importance of the target language in the learning environment stimulates L2 proficiency development. In terms of social-psychological dispositions, no important differences were found amongst the four contexts; pupils in all four contexts demonstrate positive attitudes towards (learning) English and are highly motivated.
The relevance of L1 status and typology for L2 learning is often assumed. These concepts, however, are rarely the primary object of study in SLA research, in part because defining them is a complex matter. In an attempt to redress this imbalance, this explorative study investigates French L2 social-psychological dispositions and global French L2 proficiency in young learners in European schools in Brussels and Luxemburg (n=83; 585h of FSL on average). It was found that pupils with a lower status L1 (German as compared to English) display more positive L2 attitudes, higher L2 motivation and achieve higher levels of global L2 proficiency. A different trend was observed in pupils whose L1 is typologically similar to the L2 (Spanish as compared to German): few significant differences were found concerning social-psychological dispositions as well as global L2 proficiency.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.