Language Development and Learning, Essay Example

Language development and learning in children is greatly influenced by the environment that a child is in. These environmental influences define the way that language acquisition and development occurs (Bandura, 2001). He notes that the environment defines the level of language competency that is going to be attained by a child. General learning also is affected in the same way that language development is affected by the environment.

Children become aware of their social economic status at a very young age. They are well aware of the class difference between them and their peers. As they grow, they develop class related attitudes in very early stages in life such as in the elementary school. At very early stages of life, children only focus on the on the observable class differences (external characteristics). They tend to emulate how the class they associate themselves with conducts itself. It should be noted that language acquisition and development in children is based on what they have learned from the users of the language. Given that children can observe differences between them, they will tend to develop their language skills based on the language model of the social class they associate themselves with.

Learning in early childhood is also affected by social class. Children from lower social classes (poverty) face emotional trauma. They emotional climate can lead to the children being stressful and emotionally drained and they will need a lot of attention. In such cases the children can become behaviorally aggressive or withdrawn and desperate for attention, low self esteem and the children need to belong (Fogarty, 1997). Such environment in poverty situation does not provide a good learning environment for children. Low self esteem has a big impact on the motivation for learning in children.

References

Bandura, A. (2001).  Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1-26.

Fogarty, R. (1997). Brain-compatible classrooms. Arlington Heights, IL: SkyLight Training and Publishing, Inc.