Critical Thinking Reflection – Term Paper

After reading Thornbury’s article, the adage that claims ‘practice makes perfect’ looms large given the fact that the article’s central premise is the argument that language acquisition takes the form of learning from familiarity. To that extent, as one is exposed to attributes of language, the more they are able to create or develop meanings which they then put into words which describe the same meanings. Therefore, understanding of words is key to the development of meanings. In other words, it becomes quite difficult to learn a language if meaning cannot be ascribed to words and sentences or phrases. To that extent, Thornbury notes that as people interact with others of a foreign language, the use of words that are incomprehensible is then attached to meanings that the second language learner understands and interprets. Consequently, it is only after meanings are developed that language is learned.

I find Thornbury’s sentiments aligning very well with Myles’s and Mitchell’s argument about input and output mechanism in second language acquisition. In their first experimental findings where vocabulary acquisition was linked to successful outcomes in second language learners, I believe Thornbury’s concept of familiarity applies. As such, when second language learners interact with native speakers mimicking speech equates to the attachment of meanings to words. However, based on my understanding that does not imply that the second language learner applies the knowledge of words grammatically in a sentence. In other words, although the second language learner may use the words appropriately, it may not necessarily imply that the use of the words is grammatical, or the intonation is correct.   

Consistent with Myles’s and Mitchell’s second findings, second language learner’s did not learn grammar from native speakers. Hence, my conclusion is that although comprehensible input leads to knowledge development in vocabulary, it does not guarantee correctness in grammar application since the correct use of grammar involves more than just knowledge of meanings of words. It requires knowledge of phonetics, intonation, punctuation, and pronunciation among others which may not plainly be acquired from mimicking a native speaker.