theory of learning and learner variables

working with others or individually, topics the learner 
find interesting, etc. (partially adopted from Scrivener, 2005: 63);

We will focus on

• Age ( children, adolescents, adults, levels)
• Level
• Learning styles (sensory preference, 

personality types, aptitude) 

• Learning strategies ( cognitive, metacognitive, 

memory-related, compensatory , affective, 
social) 

• Motivation ( instrumental, integrative, 

extrinsic, intrinsic)

Discussion

Younger children learn languages better than 
older ones, children learn better than adults

Foreign language learning at schools should be 
started as early age as possible

Children and adults learn languages basically the 
same way

Discussion

Adults have a longer concentration span than 
children

It is easier to interest and motivate children than 
adults

( Ur, 1996:286)

Age

• Young children (up to 9-10)
• Adolescents/teenagers
• Adult learners

Critical age (=Critical period)

• Original assumption: there is a biologically 

determined period in which it is easier to 
acquire a language. After this age period the 
acquisition becomes more and more difficult.

• It has been empirically proved that native-like

pronunciation is best achieved if the child 
starts learning L2 before the age of 6 and 
worst if the child starts after the age of 13. 

(Asher and Garcia, 1969 as cited in Najvar 2010:33)

Young learners (up to 9-10)

• Respond to meaning even if they do not 

understand individual word;

• Learn indirectly rather than directly – take in 

information from all sides; imitate, memorize

• Their understanding also comes from what 

they see and hear, touch, interact with;

• Display enthusiasm for learning and curiosity 
• Are keen to talk themselves (about 

themselves);

• ! Have a limited attention span (10 minutes)!

• Advice: change the activities to provide a 

variety of sources, work with the pupils 
individually and in groups, adjust the look of 
the classroom to fit the needs of the learners;

• as children like discovering things and have 

imagination, get them involved in puzzle-like 
activities, games, physical movement and 
songs; pictures, stories, rhymes, chants