Language Acquisition Autobiography

Elizabeth Lopez

Department of English, Los Angeles Pacific University

ENGL 420: Principles of Language

Pastor Smarr

November 13, 2023

As I reflect on my earliest past memories of spoken and written language I am reminded

of a time when I first began school as a kindergartener. I recall a girl named Mary that I became

friends with. I was a very quiet, shy girl so meeting a new friend like Mary had everything to do

with her friendly and talkative personality. Another memory that I can recall is the ease at which

I was able to write and read at this time. I thoroughly enjoyed that part of school because I loved

to read and learn. I remember taking in everything that was taught to me and quickly learned that

as I continued to listen and watch, I became more and more efficient with every aspect of

reading, writing, and math. My mom was an integral part of my speaking in that she never spoke

to my siblings and I in baby talk. She always used a normal tone when speaking to us so we

learned proper pronunciation for words. My aunt, who was a regular part of our lives, used every

opportunity to correct us whenever we used bad pronunciation. I recall one day while visiting her

home, using the word “hangburger” instead of “hamburger”. She quickly corrected me and I

never used “hangburger” again. I credit her for the way she made it her responsibility to ensure

that I spoke in the proper form. As far as books and literacy are concerned, my mom never had to

make me read. I loved it so much that I eagerly read as often as I was able to. When I visited the

library at school for the first time, I was ecstatic to be able to borrow books! I also looked

forward to Scholastic book orders where I used my allowance to purchase books that I really

wanted. Instead of my mom having me read to her, I asked if I could read to her. I am certain that

everything I learned about language came from the books that kept me enthralled by the many

adventures I had come to appreciate.

The connection between my memories as a child and my current feelings and experiences

are intertwined because I have taken that love of reading and carried it with me into my current
career choice. I presently work with children in a small group setting for reading interventions.

Watching children learn to read and write over the years has been so rewarding in and of itself. I

thoroughly enjoy using research based activities and lessons to encourage and motivate children

in the beginning stages of reading and writing. I have also had numerous opportunities to gain

greater insight into language acquisition through seminars, conferences, and district training to

help me as I navigate the challenges associated with helping students learn language and reading.

In recent years I decided to return to school to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal

Studies. My hope is to become a teacher and develop a love for learning in children, through the

development of English Language Acquisition and literacy skills.

I believe early language exposure is so impactful in that when language is heard, spoken

words become a way in which to express one’s thoughts and feelings. They become words that

have meaning and value as one learns to communicate effectively. In the article titled,

Importance of Language Development and Literacy in Children, some of the key aspects to the

development of language through literacy include building word knowledge, acquiring the skills

for comprehension, and practicing decoding skills (2019). This relates so much to what my

experience was as a child. As I began to expand on my knowledge of words, I began to gain

skills that helped me in understanding a story plot. I believe as children gain early language and

literacy experiences, they inevitably become familiar and comfortable with it later in life. It isn’t

an intimidating venture that will lead them to a supposed failure. According to an article in

Healthline, “Noam Chomsky’s theory of universal grammar says that we’re all born with an

innate understanding of the way language works” (2019). This leads me to believe that all

children have the ability to learn language and can develop it over time. Although some children

may have special needs, I believe all children have the capacity to learn language and grow right
where they are in their own individual abilities, with the help of accommodations and

modifications. In my experience in the field of education, I have seen countless situations where

children that have had parental involvement and support, are better equipped for the challenges

that come with the intricacies of language acquisition and literacy. For example, I worked with a

boy many years ago in a small reading group and every time we began to read, he just would not

read because he could not read. Unbenounced to me, his teacher eliminated his regular assigned

homework and told him (and his parents) that his only homework was to read every night with a

parent. Within 2 weeks, this boy’s disposition had completely changed. He was confident and

eager to read, raising his hand to read first. When he began to read, I could not believe the

transformation that had taken place! His smile said it all. This is one story that I will not soon

forget. It stays with me because it inspires me to recognize the value of time that goes with

parental involvement and support. English Language Acquisition can be had when it is cultivated

by a support system that encourages language and literacy. This includes parents, family,

teachers, support staff, and peers. In my own life I have experienced the joy of language

acquisition and reading with a support system that I have been truly blessed to have growing up.

One day my hope is to help children grow in their language development and encourage a love

for reading and learning.

Hope AMC. (2020, February 15). Importance of language development and literacy in children.

https://www.hope-amc.com/importance-of-language-development-and-literacy-in-

children/#:~:text=Language%20development%20and%20literacy%20is,them

%20develop%20and%20maintain%20relationships.

Stanborough, R. J. (2019, June 14). Are we born ready to learn language? Chomsky theory says

yes. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/chomsky-theory