The correct answer is 4 because social and emotional factors play a significant role in second-language acquisition. Let me explain the reasoning:
Why 4 is correct:
An immigrant living in a country where the second language is spoken and feeling accepted by speakers of the second language is in an optimal environment for language acquisition due to the following reasons:
Immersion: The immigrant is likely surrounded by the language in daily life (work, community, etc.), which provides constant exposure and opportunities to use the language in meaningful, real-world contexts.
Motivation and Social Integration: Feeling accepted and included by native speakers reduces anxiety, builds confidence, and creates motivation to communicate. These positive emotions are crucial in facilitating language learning.
Practical Use: The immigrant likely needs to use the language for everyday survival and social interaction, which ensures regular practice in diverse contexts.
Why the other options are less effective:
Option 1 (High school student): While formal instruction is helpful, classroom learning alone is often limited in effectiveness because it may lack meaningful, real-life interaction. Also, students in mandatory classes may lack intrinsic motivation to learn the language.
Option 2 (Visitor to a country): While interacting with hotel and restaurant staff provides some exposure, it is limited to superficial and repetitive exchanges, which might not provide the depth needed for true language acquisition.
Option 3 (Businessperson): Although career advancement may be a motivating factor, the businessperson might not have consistent or immersive opportunities to practice the language in diverse, meaningful ways. Additionally, their focus might be limited to specific professional vocabulary rather than holistic language use.
Conclusion:
The immigrant in Option 4 benefits from naturalistic, meaningful immersion in the second language along with a strong sense of belonging and motivation, which are key factors in successful language acquisition. These conditions align with what linguists describe as ideal for learning a second language effectively.
Year-wise PYQs
