Republic of the Philippines

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Puerto Princesa City

Final Exam in Language Acquisition Theories, Principles and Research

I. Choose eight questions from the list and discuss comprehensively each. There
are two bonus questions and one required question (worth 10 points).

1. Discuss the significance of critical period hypothesis to second language

learning. Cite important research work to support your points of view.

2. Do you think that speaking is a skill that can be acquired or learned? Give
reasons from materials acquired.

3. Contrast field dependent and field independent learners. What is the

significance of teacher’s awareness of these two types of learners? (Bonus
question for 5 points)

4. Being language teachers, how will your knowledge of scales of extraversion

and introversion impact your choice of lessons and manner of dealing with
learners?

5. Based on the different topics presented in the class, define/describe each

terminology and discuss how each is significant to your knowledge as a
language teacher.
a. Interlanguage
b. Transferability
c. Fossilization
d. Gender
e. Culture

6. Contrast error from mistake. How important is error correction to you as a

language teacher? What learner errors will you correct? When will you correct
them? Cite sample situations.

7. What are the roles of the following in l2 Learning? Cite examples.

a. Attention
b. Intention
c. Awareness
d. Rules

8. Why is it that language use and language knowledge is inseparable? Do you

agree? Please explain. What is the significance of language community to
learning the target language?
9. What is the significance of memory to information processing? Differentiate
short-term and long-term memory. (bonus question for 5 points)

10. Describe each of the following:

a. Genre analysis
b. Conversation analysis
c. Discourse analysis
d. Contrastive analysis

11. Discuss three different theories of cognitive processing and the role they play
in storing knowledge in short term and long term memory.

12. What are the three dimensions of integrativeness? How will you take
advantage of motivation in helping create learner identity in your own
classroom thereby creating the desire to invest in imagined communities?
Expound your answer.

13. Discuss Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and its contributions to L2

learning.

14. After having acquired this course, what realizations do you have about second
language teaching and learning? How do such realizations affect the way you
will teach English this coming school year? (required question)

15. Referring to researches on interlanguage, what is the significance of

longitudinal and cross-linguistic research in deriving language principles and
theories?
16. What are the implications to pedagogy of your knowledge of aptitude, and
affective dimensions as factors in L2 learning?