SL Acquisition and SL Teaching

Second Language Acquisition can be described as the different sets, factors, inputs, in which every person has on their own environment, and according to their abilities, can make of this input, comprehensible in order to facilitate the acquisition of the second language.

Second Language Teaching, instead, can be described as the set of ¨rules¨, ways, methodologies, strategies, applied in order to facilitate the acquisition of a second language.

Probably there is no difference between these two approaches, regarding that both seek for one common objective, learning a second language.

In terms of ¨how¨ is the process of SL acquisition and SL teaching, we can see a notorious gap between them, since there are external, social factors affecting the acquisition process, while on the teaching process, these factors might not represent an influence on it.

In terms of ¨what¨ is the best approach, regarding to a successful learning of a second language, the answer might rely onto what context the SL learner is dealing with, and what factors might be affecting or interacting with his/her background knowledge.