Fossilization: a Comparative Study Between Formal and Informal SLA
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Date
2019
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Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA
Abstract
Abstract
The notion of fossilization is one of the most important factors in preventing learners
to reach their aim. The present study attempts to compare the degree of fossilization between
two language learning settings, in other words, it seeks to compare between learners who
studied English in formal settings and those who acquired their language informally, trying to
find out which of the two is more fossilized than the other. It is hypothesized that formal and
informal language learning are different in regard to fossilization ratio. This dissertation is
divided into two main parts: the theoretical part or the literature review and the practical part,
the former includes two chapters and the latter is composed of only one chapter. Furthermore,
this study follows the quantitative approach and it was carried out using the descriptive
design. The required data for the research were collected via two forms of questionnaires;
one administered as a hard copy while another through an online submission, the former was
distributed to 20 English students at the University of Khenchela while the latter to 20
learners who acquired English in informal settings. After the analysis of the data, the findings
show that there is no significant difference in fossilization ratio between university students
and learners who acquired English informally, yet, this phenomenon occurs anyway in both
learning environments. Consequently, the context in which learners acquire a foreign
language has inconsiderable impact on learner’s language competence.