Nainian et al. (1978) contend that there are no stereotyped good
language learners with a high aptitude or a good memory. Instead they
report that good language learners (1) actively involve themselves in the
language learning tasks, (2) view a second language as a means of
communication, (3) view a second language as an intricate rule-governed
system, (4) cope with the affective demands made on them in the
language learning tasks, and (5) constantly revise their I2 system.