The Relationship between Acculturation and Successful Second Language Acquisition

Abstract：Learning culture is an inevitable component in second language acquisition （SLA）. But， in the process， how to deal with the problem of acculturation is the crucial to every SLA learners.

Undoubtedly， different social groups hold different living styles； which may consist the ways of their thinking， behaviors， reaction， values， beliefs and connection with others. As a consequence， it is not hard to understand that when someone needs to learn another language， he will confront those cultural differences in his learning process.

Involving in the SLA process， we cannot forbid the area of acculturation. Thus， every second language learner will face this process fairly； which is the collision between his first language culture， and of course， his target language culture. Thus， to most of the second language learners， this collision and challenge are quite suffering but necessary on the other hand.

In the aspect of acquiring second language and its culture； we have to admit the importance of social distance conception. Social distance has five parameters： dominance， integration， cohesiveness， congruence and permanence. （Brown， 2007）Those five parameters decide whether one can get to the optimal social distance or not. For example， we can realize something from the disadvantaged groups of India women who immigrated to the United States； that is， because the improper social distance between America and India， these immigrants suffered a lot of difficulties for acquiring the equal rights on work， marriage， selection， residence， etc. To analyze the social distance of their acculturation， we realize that their target language culture dominated their first language even though their first language culture is cohesive， congruent and their intended length of residence is permanent. That is to say， according to the different social stages between America and India， those women experienced the disadvantaged acculturation process， even though they achieved accomplishments in the end. （Sircar， 2000）

In my perspective， acculturation is an indispensable aspect in all second language learners acquisition processes， although different individuals may experience it in different ways. all the second learners should try their best to get the optimal combination of it.

Reference：

Brown， H. D. （2007）. Principles of language learning and teaching. New York： Pearson Education.

Sircar， A. （2000）. Work roles， gender roles， and Asian Indian immigrant women in the United States. Ceredigion， Wales， UK： The Edwin Mellen Press， Ltd.

作者簡介：王婧仪（1988-），女，汉族，陕西省西安市人，助教，应用语言学硕士，单位：武警工程大学基础部外语第一教研室，研究方向：英语教学理论与实践。