Gifted Language Learner: A Case of Nature or Nurture?

This book investigates the mystery of giftedness in language learning, combining theory and empirical research from various disciplines to understand native-like abilities in language learners beyond early childhood. It emphasizes the need to consider cognitive, neural, emotional, psychological, and social factors to comprehend native-likeness in a second language. The book provides recommendations to re-orient research toward an appreciation of the individual's role and the balance of nature and nurture in GLL.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Language learners beyond early childhood are rarely expected to attain native-like proficiency in their new language, yet some do. Are these individuals uniquely gifted? If so, are such gifts innate or the result of intense drive, optimal experience, opportunity, or something else entirely? This groundbreaking book aims to better understand the perennial mystery of giftedness in language learning (GLL). Incorporating quantitative, qualitative, and case study data, this analysis demonstrates the need to transcend cognitive, neural, emotional, psychological, and social lines to comprehend native-like proficiency in a second language. All such outliers face limits, potentials, and choices. What they do in the face of these is key. With this complexity in mind, specific recommendations are provided to re-orient the research toward an appreciation of the individual's role and a clearer understanding of the inherent balance of nature and nurture in GLL.

Language learners beyond early childhood are rarely expected to attain native-like proficiency in their new language, yet some do. Are these individuals uniquely gifted? If so, are such gifts innate or the result of intense drive, optimal experience, opportunity, or something else entirely? This groundbreaking book aims to better understand the perennial mystery of giftedness in language learning (GLL). Incorporating quantitative, qualitative, and case study data, this analysis demonstrates the need to transcend cognitive, neural, emotional, psychological, and social lines to comprehend native-like proficiency in a second language. All such outliers face limits, potentials, and choices. What they do in the face of these is key. With this complexity in mind, specific recommendations are provided to re-orient the research toward an appreciation of the individual's role and a clearer understanding of the inherent balance of nature and nurture in GLL.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 220 x 295 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108710862