Why do some ESL students learn much more quickly than others?
There are a number of reasons why some students learn English a lot more quickly than others. The first language is obviously a major factor here. It is clearly easier for a Dutch or German child to learn English than a child from Japan or China. Also, as children learn new languages they generally find each successive one easier to master since they bring with them a great deal of implicit knowledge of how to learn languages. So a Dutch child who has already learned some French and German will probably find learning English does not present very much difficulty at all. Another factor influencing second language development is the child s attitude to the target language and culture. The situation at FIS is a little complicated as the new ESL student is exposed to 2 new cultures at the same time – the culture of Germany, the host country, and the culture of our school, which is dominated by Anglo-American practices. A child who is unhappy about being in Germany, or uncomfortable in his
