1. Pre-Production (Silent Period)
* Age: Typically starts at birth and continues for a few months to a year.
* Characteristics: The learner is absorbing language, but not yet producing it. They may understand some basic words and phrases, but they will not speak much.
* Strategies: Focus on listening, observing, and absorbing the new language.
2. Early Production
* Age: 6 months to 2 years
* Characteristics: The learner begins to produce single words and short phrases. They may use simple grammatical structures, but they may make errors.
* Strategies: Continue listening and observing. Start using single words and short phrases. Ask simple questions and use visual aids to help communication.
3. Speech Emergence
* Age: 2 to 3 years
* Characteristics: The learner begins to produce simple sentences. They may use more complex grammar, but they may still make errors.
* Strategies: Focus on expanding vocabulary, using short and simple sentences, and asking questions that require simple answers. Encourage interaction with native speakers.
4. Intermediate Fluency
* Age: 3 to 5 years
* Characteristics: The learner is able to speak in longer sentences and more complex grammar. They may still make some errors, but they are able to communicate effectively in most situations.
* Strategies: Continue expanding vocabulary, reading in the target language, and practicing conversation with native speakers.
5. Advanced Fluency
* Age: 5 years and beyond
* Characteristics: The learner is able to communicate fluently and accurately in a variety of situations. They can understand complex language and participate in conversations on a wide range of topics.
* Strategies: Focus on reading and writing in the target language, developing an understanding of cultural nuances, and engaging in more challenging conversations.
Important Considerations:
* Individual Differences: Each learner progresses at their own pace and may spend different lengths of time in each stage.
* Age of Acquisition: Learners who begin acquiring a language at a younger age typically progress faster.
* Exposure and Input: The amount and quality of exposure to the target language is crucial for acquisition.
* Motivation and Attitude: Learners who are highly motivated and have a positive attitude towards learning a new language tend to be more successful.
It's important to remember that this is a general framework, and each individual's language learning journey is unique.