There are five general stages each person goes through when learning a new language. The amount of time spent in each stage depends upon several factors, like the age and abilities of the student, whether the student is taking an intensive English program (or other language program), and their commitment to learning the new language.
Stage 1: Pre-Production
During this stage, the student is normally silent while listening to new words and gaining an understanding of the language.
Stage 2: Early Production
At this stage, students start to practice pronouncing new words, and typically learn at least 1,000 new words and their meanings. They also start using their new words to speak in short phrases.
Stage 3: Speech Emergence
Vocabulary continues to expand, and students will know a minimum of 3,000 words by the end of this stage. They start to speak in longer phrases and sentences, and to ask questions. In addition, at this stage they will start reading and writing assignments.
Stage 4: Intermediate Fluency
Students start to think and form responses in the new language. By the end of this stage, most people have learned well over 6,000 different words and their meanings. They are also speaking more fluently and continuing to improve upon their reading and writing abilities.
Stage 5: Advance Fluency
People who reach this stage continue to improve upon and expand their vocabulary and abilities in their second language.
For more information about interpersonal communications and ESL programs, contact Computer Systems Institute at 1-847-967-5030 today.
