When learners use similarities between their native language and English to aid learning, this is known as

When learners use similarities between their native language and English to aid learning, this is known as

• A. Positive transfer
• B. Negative transfer
• C. Translanguaging
• D. Fossilization

Answer: (A)

This is about how learners benefit from similarities between their native language and English. When features in a learner’s L1 align with English, prior knowledge helps learners guess meanings, recognize cognates, and apply familiar sentence patterns or vocabulary. This smoothing effect is called positive transfer, because it transfers helpful L1 knowledge into English learning. In contrast, negative transfer happens when differences between languages lead to errors, translanguaging refers to using all linguistic resources across languages for meaning, and fossilization is when incorrect forms become permanently entrenched despite instruction.

This is about how learners benefit from similarities between their native language and English. When features in a learner’s L1 align with English, prior knowledge helps learners guess meanings, recognize cognates, and apply familiar sentence patterns or vocabulary. This smoothing effect is called positive transfer, because it transfers helpful L1 knowledge into English learning.

In contrast, negative transfer happens when differences between languages lead to errors, translanguaging refers to using all linguistic resources across languages for meaning, and fossilization is when incorrect forms become permanently entrenched despite instruction.