Age as an important factor affecting the process of second language acquisition : a literature review

CONCLUSION
The success in second language acquisition depends on many factors. Age factor is among the most important ones. If a learner has a competency in his or her own language, he or she is more advantageous than those who have not completed his first language.


REFERENCES
Andersson, T. (1960): "The Optimum Age for Beginning the Study of Modern Languages", International Review of Education VI.

Asher, J. and R. Garcia. (1969). “The optimal age to learn a foreign language”. Modern Language Journal, 53: 334-41.

Brown, H. D. (2002). Principles of language learning and teaching. White Plains, NY: Longman

Collier, V. P. (1988). The Effect of Age on Acquisition of a Second Language for School. New Focus. The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. No: 2, Winter: 1987-1988.

Ekstrand, L. (1982). Age and length of residence as variables related to the adjustment of migrant children, with special reference to second language learning. In Krashen, S., Scarcell, R. & Long, M. (Eds.), Issues in second language research. London: Newbury House, 123-36.

Ellis, R. (1985). Understanding second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Fathman, A. (1975). “The relationship between age and second language productive ability.” Language Learning 25: 245-53.

Genesee, F. (2008). Bilingual first language acquisition: Evidence from Montreal. Diversité Urbain, 9-26. Retrieved from http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/perpg/fac/ genesee/6.pdf

Gleeson, M and A. Stephenson (1994): "Catching them young: a panacea for language learning". Greta: IX Jornadas Pedagógicas. Granada.

Krashen, S. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2008). Techniques and principles in teaching (2nd ed.). NY: OUP.

Lenneberg, E. (1976). Biological Foundations of Language. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Mayberry, R. & Lock, E. (2003). Age constraints on first versus second language acquisition: Evidence for linguistic plasticity and epigenesist. Brain and Language, 87 (1), 369-384.

Oyama, S. (1976). “A sensitive period in the acquisition of a non-native phonological system”. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. 5:261-85.

Patkowski, M. (1980). “The sensitive period for the acquisition of syntax in a second language”. Language Learning, 30: 449-72.

______. (1990). “Age and accent in a second language: A reply to Emil James Flege”. Applied Linguistics. 11:73-89.

Penfield, W.G. and Roberts, L. (1959). Speech and brain-mechanisms. Princeton: Princeton University Press; London: Oxford University Press.

Singleton, D. M., & Ryan, L. (2002). Language acquisition: The age factor. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

_____ .(1998). Language acquisition: The age factor. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

______ .(2005). The critical period hypothesis: A coat of many colours. International Review of Applied Linguistics, 43, 269-286.

Snow, C. and M. Hoefnagel-Hohle. (1978). “Age differences in second language acquisition” in Hatch, E. (ed.) Second Language Acquisition. Rowley, Mass.: Newbury House.