Age of Onset and China's English Learners' Foreign Language Proficiency——An Interpretation Based on Language Input

doi:10.15936/j.cnki.1008-3758.2017.02.015

Abstract

Abstract: From the national and regional perspective， the correlation between China's English learners' age of onset and their foreign language proficiency was interpreted based on the quantity and intensity of language input， and the effect of first English teachers' overall ability and phonological skill upon Chinese learners' English pronunciation was explored based on the quality of language input. It was found that the quality， quantity and intensity of language input plays a more essential role in foreign language proficiency than age of onset; however， as a primary input source， the overall ability and phonological skill of China's English teachers have much room for improvement. It was suggested that the correlation between age of onset and foreign language proficiency should be downplayed while priority should be given to the approaches of improving the quality and quantity of foreign language input for Chinese learners.

Key words: age of onset, English proficiency, language input

CLC Number:

H319

WANG Bo-ran， WANG Peng-ran， HAN Mei-ling. Age of Onset and China's English Learners' Foreign Language Proficiency——An Interpretation Based on Language Input[J]. Journal of Northeastern University(Social Science), 2017, 19(2): 208-215.

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