FIRTS LANGUAGE vs SECOND LANGUAGE ADQUISITION 

Language is the ability that people have to communicate, using the language or languages ​​they learn. Language is for the speaker the tool to express himself, therefore, it is the element that unites him to his social environment.

How the learning process of a first and second language develops is addressed in this scientific text using bibliographic sources that reveal the different conceptions of linguists about the acquisition of language.

First and second language learning process

When talking about the process of teaching and learning a language, it is necessary to mention that communication occurs through language; This is understood as the human faculty to express ideas, feelings and thoughts that allows social interrelation between people

The theories about this process were gradually exposed while the desire to understand the phenomenon of how human beings could and were able to learn a second language persisted.

1.- Behaviorism.

It proposes that the fundamental basis of any teaching-learning process is represented by a conditioned reflex, that is, by the associated relationship that exists between the response and the stimulus that causes it. In general, behaviorism is considered as a clinical orientation that is enriched with other conceptions.

In learning a language, the stimulus is the language to which the learner is exposed; the answer is the learner's production and the reinforcement can come in the form of praise or correction from the interlocutor (adult, native speaker or teacher), or of success or failure in communication.

For behaviorists, mastering a foreign language consists of learning a set of new linguistic habits that can collide with previously acquired linguistic habits corresponding to the mother tongue. New habits are created by repeating and practicing linguistic patterns corresponding to the target language until these patterns have been over-learned and can be produced by the student automatically, without stopping to think about them.

Difference between first language and second language

The key difference between the first language and the second language is its acquisition. The first language is the one that is learned first, and this is usually a natural and effortless process, while the second language is the language that is acquired after the first language, and this acquisition is usually a challenging process.

The majority of the world's population in today's world is bilingual or multilingual, that is, capable of speaking more than one language. First language and second language are two terms that are primarily relevant to bilinguals and bilingualism. The first language is one's native language, while the second language is the language that is acquired. 

What is the first language?

The first language (L1) is the language that a person learns first. We also call this first language mother tongue and mother tongue. It is actually the language that you learn and speak at home. Therefore, children learn their first language from their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. Therefore, one learns the first language effortlessly and naturally by listening to parents and other caregivers who communicate in this language.

What is a second language?

The second language is a language that a person learns after their native language. It can also refer to any language that a person uses other than their mother tongue. Compared to the first language, this is usually learned at a later stage. For example, students in many South Asian countries learn English as a second language in addition to their mother tongue.

However, the process of learning a second language requires a lot of effort, as it requires becoming familiar with vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation, grammar rules, etc. It is especially true if you are an adult. Many people around the world use English as a second language.

The Use of First Language in the Second Language Classroom 

First of all, students were more engaged during the activity that used code switching. Their level of participation was higher, which made room for teachers to connect with other activities and deepen understanding. When students are engaged, the lesson runs in a smoother and positive way, and therefore the teacher and students can make the most of every activity, thus enriching learning. The first lesson observed was a read-aloud activity where the teacher read Who will be my mother? using only English during both instruction and reading time. This will be called Activity A. The second lesson observed was a read-aloud of A Button for Corduroy, but this time the teacher used code switching between English and Spanish. Illustrates data collected from Activity A. As it is clear on the graph, students participated 13 times during this read-aloud activity, but they also interrupted almost as many times as they participated . However,  illustrates students’ behavior during Activity B. It is evident through the chart that during this activity, students participated more than they interrupted.

WEBSITES

https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-first-language-and-second-language/#:~:text=the%20second%20language.-,The%20key%20difference%20between%20first%20language%20and%20second%20language%20is,takes%20a%20lot%20of%20efforts.