Major Individual Learner Differences And Their Implications For Foreign Language Learning And Teaching

In the last three decades or so, researchers on second/foreign language learning and teaching have developed rapidly as a result of the extensive study of second language acquisition. Researchers have sought to investigate some universal properties of language learning. Meanwhile, they have devoted much effort to individual learner differences, or personal variables, to explain variation in the rate at which learners acquire a second/foreign language and the language proficiency learners achieve.Individual learner differences are one of the most important factors which result in variation in the success of language learning. Such individual learner differences as language aptitude, attitudes and motivation, personality and learning strategies are discussed on the basis of literature concerned and the writer's observations.Aptitude is the ability that consists of specific cognitive qualities needed for second/foreign language learning. Four components of language aptitude are identified: 1) Phonetic coding ability, 2) Grammatical sensitivity, 3) Inductive language learning ability, 4) Rote learning activity for foreign language material.Motivation and attitudes are important factors, which help to determine the level of proficiency achieved by different learners. Attitudes are directly related to motivation, which in turn is directly to second/foreign language learning. Motivation is classified into two: integrative motivation and instrumental motivation. In certain situations integrative motivation may be more powerful in facilitating successful second/foreign language learning, but in other situations instrumental motivation may be more helpful in facilitating successful second/foreign language learning.Personality is an affective characteristic. Those personality traits that seem to have been most widely researched are extroversion and introversion, self-confidence and anxiety, etc. Learners with self-confidence and low anxiety are most likely to be successful in second/foreign language learning.Learning strategies are another important factor in the second/foreign language...