What term describes using knowledge from a learner’s first language to help them acquire another language?

What term describes using knowledge from a learner’s first language to help them acquire another language?

• A. Transfer
• B. Interference
• C. Code-Switching
• D. Acculturation

Answer: (A)

Using knowledge from a learner’s first language to help acquire another language is transfer. When students draw on L1 features that align with the new language—like recognizing cognates or similar sentence patterns—they can learn more quickly because familiar concepts support new learning. This is positive transfer, the idea that the strengths of the native language aid the new language. Interference describes when L1 features cause errors in the new language, code-switching is the practice of alternating between languages within discourse, and acculturation is adapting to a new culture. For example, a learner who notices that some English and Spanish words share roots can expand vocabulary more rapidly through positive transfer.

Using knowledge from a learner’s first language to help acquire another language is transfer. When students draw on L1 features that align with the new language—like recognizing cognates or similar sentence patterns—they can learn more quickly because familiar concepts support new learning. This is positive transfer, the idea that the strengths of the native language aid the new language. Interference describes when L1 features cause errors in the new language, code-switching is the practice of alternating between languages within discourse, and acculturation is adapting to a new culture. For example, a learner who notices that some English and Spanish words share roots can expand vocabulary more rapidly through positive transfer.