Group Summary- Language Acquisition (Arlenia, Michelle, Czar and Robert)

As a group we all agreed that it is easier to acquire a language as a child through different modalities than to try to learn a new language as a adult. Michelle had questions regarding the differences in children from different cultures and how they learn to communicate through words. We all know that language can be acquired through different modalities such as adults, other children, television, the radio and technology. When I read all my group memeber's summaries including mine I noticed how language acquisition was being correlated to reading. It is one of the things that the more you practice, the better you can get at it. For example, a child who is struggling with reading will only get better at it by practicing and having constant exposure. The same goes with a language for children, if they are exposed to different languages, they are more likely to remember what they have learned if it is practiced.
I agreed with Robert in his statement of it being difficult for an adult to acquire a second language because the adult brain finds it difficult, but not impossible. I think this comes into play because there will be a language barrier and as adults it can be difficult because it will be hard to activate prior knowledge about a language that is not necessarily there.
There is not one correct formula or way to teach everyone a chosen language. This is also true for reading, there is no one right way. In order to become better with literacy and verbal communication, we must try different startegies and skills and determine what works for each of us. Language acquisition is one part of literacy development. They go hand in hand with how we learn it and are able to use it. We would be better of if we start exposing the children around us at an early age so they can actually learn it and remember it. I compared children to sponges when it comes to language acquisition and reading because they are able to absorb a lot more when they are younger. Their minds are empty and waiting to be filled with this knowledge. As time goes on the part of the brain that does this function begins to lose space, therefore making it more difficult to learn as adults. Our group has come to the conclusion that this is an interesting topic worth investigating because if we can learn all the startegies then we can find different ways to teach children so they can understand, comprehend and retain what is being taught in all subject areas.