Natural and Instructional Input Practices: Consciousness-Raising in ELT

Abstract

Many researchers on language acquisition agree that early onset is important when acquiring a second language (L2). Second language acquisition depends on the experience of the target language. Accounts of successful L2 acquisition have accordingly emphasized the importance of the quality of the input available to the learners. Consequently, this study probes the impact of input quality on second language grammar comprehension and production of young children. 40 infants (3 to 4 years old) were selected as the sample of this study. The results revealed that explicit input which draws learners’ attention to linguistic form and structure caused a better grammar comprehension and production in young children; explicit grammar instruction can serve to speed up both grammar comprehension and production process.