IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT L2 LEARNING – THE IMPACT OF CERTAIN FACTORS
IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT L2 LEARNING – THE IMPACT OF CERTAIN FACTORS

Author(s): Mariana Gotseva
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Language and Literature Studies, Education, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Philology
Published by: ЮГОЗАПАДЕН УНИВЕРСИТЕТ »НЕОФИТ РИЛСКИ«
Keywords: implicit/explicit knowledge; implicit/explicit learning; SLA; factors affecting SLA
Summary/Abstract: Learners of L2 in foreign learning settings receive a different type of input, in terms of quantity and quality, and have a much more limited exposure to the target language. Having taken this into consideration, the research presented in this article attempted to analyse the outcomes of the L2 learning process which takes place in such conditions through the perspective of implicit /explicit learning and implicit / explicit knowledge dichotomy. It seems justified by the fact that the conditions in which L2 learning happens in a foreign language classroom do not resemble, even remotely, the naturalistic learning in immersion environment. The former presupposes mostly explicit learning and acquisition of explicit knowledge, which might or might not turn into implicit knowledge, depending on the length of learning and exposure to L2, whereas the latter presupposes implicit (L1 children-like) learning and acquisition of implicit knowledge, although it might be supplemented by explicit knowledge as a result of education in formal environment. The findings showed that the most significant factors which have an impact on learners’ performance on tests measuring implicit knowledge (TGJT and OIT) tend to be the length of exposure to L2 in environment where it is used as native and the starting age of learning, followed by length of learning and type of input, which were also found statistically significant. Learners who perform better on tests measuring implicit knowledge also demonstrate higher levels of proficiency, which points to the fact that an L2 is best learned through acquiring implicit knowledge.

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