Acculturation and second language acquisition: A sociolinguistic study of native speakers of Chinese in the United States

The purposes of this study were to: identify the characteristics of both the successful and the less successful second language learners; to explore how attitudes toward the target language and culture contribute to the adaptation process and second language learning; and to investigate the relationship between cultural adaptation and second language learning.;The study was conducted with ten international graduate students from the People's Republic of China studying at Rutgers University, half of whom were labeled successful second language learners and the other half less successful second language learners. A series of oral interviews were conducted with each respondent on his/her life in the United States followed by an oral English proficiency test designed by ETS to determine each respondent's oral English proficiency level. Other factors relating to second language acquisition such as age, gender, and marital status, academic majors, incoming TOEFL scores, number of years studying English, and number of years in the United States were also included. Verbal data obtained from the in-depth interviews, based on the theoretical constructs of attitude, motivation, social and psychological distance, perceived social distance and individual differences, were synthesized and analyzed from which seven semantic themes were generated. These themes were: Coping with Problems, Friends and Friendship, Language Use, General Attitudes, Motivation, Social Contacts, and The Chinese Self.;The results of the study indicate that Chinese students who are successful in second language acquisition possess high levels of self-esteem and confidence, an attitude of willingness to adapt to the target culture, a strong motivation to learn the target language, and who have extensive contacts with the target population and society.;As a result of this study, a number of suggestions for educators have also been developed. This information will assist ESL professionals in understanding and evaluating Chinese second language learners and offering appropriate advice and guidance.