Module 3: First Language Acquisition

Introduction to First Language Acuisition

How do we acquire our first language?

What are the most important steps?

Do every children acquire language at the same speed?

You will soon have the answers !

Lesson 1: Language Acquisition from Birth to 1.5 Years Old

In this lesson, you will get to know the first steps of a baby's language learning and acquisition, when this process begins and what the typical stages are until the age of 1.5 years old.

Lesson 2: Language Acquisition from 1.5 to 6 Years Old

In this lesson, we continue from what you learned in the previous lesson and take a closer look at the three stages of acquiring language after 18 months old.

Lesson 3: Bilingual Language Development in Early Childhood

Bilingual development in early childhood refers to the process by which a child acquires and learns proficiency in two languages, typically through exposure and interaction in their formative years, leading to cognitive and linguistic benefits.

Lesson 4: Internal and External Factors in Language Acquisition

Language acquisition is a complex process influenced by various internal and external factors. While internal factors like genetic predisposition and a child's cognitive abilities play an important role, it is the external factors that shape the environment and conditions under which language acquisition occurs.

Final Quiz

Question 1

Babbling is universal, which means that the very first sounds of a baby are the same, no matter in which culture or language they grew up.

Is this true or false?

Question 2

In which phase is meaning assigned to the uttered sound/word? In your answer, also formulate an example, which can be freely invented.

Question 3

Why would you hardly ever hear the utterance ‘Milk she drink’ from a 2-year-old child?

Question 4

Give an example of over-regulation.

Question 5

What happens if one of the languages (BFLA) is learned but neglected?

Question 6

What is the most significant difference in language learning between BFLA and MFLA?

Question 7

What is joint attention and what is the connection to language acquisition?

Question 8

According to a 1995 study by Hart and Risley, what is the difference in the number of words heard by the age of three between children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families and those from more affluent families?