Very young language learners begin the task of first language acquisition without the cognitive maturity or metalinguistic

awareness that older second language learners have.

On the one hand, cognitive maturity and metalinguistic awareness allow older learners to solve problems and engage in discussions about language.

Some researchers have suggested that the use of these cognitive skills, can actually interfere with a language acquistion. Their hypotesis is that succesful language acquisition draws on different mental abilities, abilities that are specific to language learning.

Most child learners are willing to try use the language-even when their proficiency is quited limited. Many adults and adolescents find it stressful when they are unable t express themselves clearly and correctly.

Lydia White, other linguists have argued that UG offers the best perspective from which to understand second anguage acquisition. Although UG iss a good framework for understanding first language acquisition, it is not a dood explanation for the acquisition of a second language, especially by learners who have passed the critical period, this means that second alnguage acquisition has to be explained by some other theory.

Some of the theorists who hold this view claim that the nature and availability of UG are the same in first and second language acquisition. UG perspective usually interested in the language competence of advanced learnerstheir complex knowledge of grammar- rather than in the simple language of beginning learners.

-Acquisition learning hypotesis: We acquire as we are exposed to samples of the second language we understand in much the same way that children pickup their first language- with no conscious attention to language form.

-Monitorr hypothesis: The acquired system initiates a speacker`s urrenances and is responsible for spontaneou laguage use. The learned system acrs as an editor or monitor.

-Natural order hypothesis was based on the finding that, as in first languafe axquisition, second language acquisition unfolds in predictable sequences. -Input hypothesis. Iis that acquisiton occurs when one is exposed to level of language aal ready acquired. -Affective filter is a metaphorical barrier that prevents learners from acquiring language evenwhen appropiate input is available. After refers to feeling, motived, needs, attitudes and emotional state.

Current psychological theories: The cognitivism/developmental perspective

As in first language acquisition, cognitive and developmental psychologist argue that there is no dead to hypotesize that humans have a language specific module in the brain or that acquisition and learning are distinct mental processes.