Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition Essay

Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition - Essay Example Language pedagogy has always been my unflinching passion; and my experiences of teaching English as a foreign language primary school pupils (voluntary work in high school), helped me conclusively determine my goals. Observing the process of SLA, I was able to better comprehend the impact of socio-cultural impacts on learning and receptivity. Various elements such as critical age influence, personal motivations, and the overall environment –including social and domestic settings – in which these pupils were learning, combined to create their own dynamic reception framework. I realized that the role of a teacher is not only challenging but also essential in facilitating the development of linguistic skills and effective communication. Indeed, as Sir Christopher Ball put it â€Å"successful teaching is about winning the attention of the learner.† After completing socially-tailored A-levels, I jointly took up English Language and Linguistics and International Relations at Oxford Brookes University. I liked the Linguistics course’s focus on the relationship between language and meaning just as much as I enjoyed perceiving the interrelation between language and communication; the course also dealt with human development, the interplay between language and literature and the ideational concepts of descriptive linguistics. The "Psychology of Language"(B+) module, where I developed my interests in SLA, helped me appreciate the social implications of language acquisition, and "Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching"(A) helped develop a keen awareness of a range of teaching techniques (especially, microteaching). My enthusiasm for this program arises from my conviction that it shall allow me to explore each of the above facets more substantively.