The thesis of the following paper is that the process of learning a second language, if it produces successful results, is the same as that of learning a first language. The paper reviews various objections that have been raised against this thesis, and it discusses the considerable body of research which explores it. It examines the appropriateness of the research data for throwing light on the validity of the thesis. It concludes with some practical guidelines for language teachers drawn from observations of babies learning their mother tongue.
To establish the theory is not enough, however; there are quite a number of practical applications which must be made. These arise from a common-sense comparison of nurseries and classrooms from the language learning perspective. Our knowledge of how mothers talk to babies and of how babies learn to speak is growing and suggests broad guidelines for language teaching and learning. But first some general remarks about language learning at any age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]