the Stevenson and Cowell Dinning hall

At this weekend, I came to the Stevenson and Cowell Dinning hall to find my interviewees.

First was an America boy called Alex. When I find him, he was having dinner alone. He was willing to accept my interview.

Qingyao: Alex, how many languages can you speak now?

Alex: I speak 2 languages now, English and French.

Qingyao: How long do you learn to speak French?

Alex: For 3 years.

Qingyao: Why did you learn the 2nd language?

Alex: Because I need use 2nd language to talk to my French friends. Also, French is a really useful language and will help me in the future.

Qingyao: What language are mostly people speaking in the world?

Alex: Haha, of course English.

Qingyao: Haha, this question is stupid. So what language is mostly people study in 2nd language?

Alex: English must be the first choice of mostly people around the world. But in the America, French and Spanish will be in the majority.

Qingyao: What the difference do you think between learning the 1st language and the 2nd language?

Alex: I found that the 1st language is my instinct, I can learn it easily and just follow my parents and depend my life environment. However, since there are no French people around me, so the environment is impossible, I just can follow my teacher and read the language myself again and again. Also, I found that the 2nd language needs the basic language and knowledge of the native language.

Qingyao: What is the hardest part when you study French?

Alex: I cannot speak fluently as my native language. French has so many different language skills from English. It is much more complex than English.

Qingtyao: What are benefits you finding from studying the 2nd language?

Alex: After I study French, I can understand French culture and communicate with some French people. French let me interact this world more than before.

Second was a Chinese girl called Ada. She is one of my friend in China.

Qingyao: Ada, how many languages can you speak now?

Ada: I just speak Chinese now.

Qingyao: Do you think you should learn the 2nd language?

Ada: No.

Qingyao: Why? English is so useful now. Don’t you want to involve in the international society?

Ada: Because I live and stay in China most of the time. I don’t need to study the 2nd language. It is really useless and wastes my time.

Qingyao: What language are mostly people speaking?

Ada: Of course is Chinese.

Qingyao: What language is mostly people study in 2nd language?

Ada: I think is English. It seems the easiest and the most universal language in the world.

Qingyao: What the difference do you think between learning the 1st language and the 2nd language?

Ada: People can learn how to speak the native language easily. This is a unconscious process. Nobody learnt how to speak their native language intentionally but you also can master it well. However, for the 2nd language, we need to learn vocabulary and grammar in order to achieve our goal.

Qingyao: What is the hardest part when you study English?

Ada: Because I am in China, so I cannot have the English environment to help us improve our language skills.

Qingyao: What are benefits you finding from studying the 2nd language?

Ada: When we travel abroad, English can help us communicate with people in the local.

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/language-learning-tips/102581-difference-between-first-and-second-language-acquisition/

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/Writings/Papers/L1&L22008.htm