Multilingual learners and foreign language acquisition: Insights into the effects of prior linguistic knowledge

Abstract

AbstractIn foreign language classrooms we often find that, in addition to their mother tongue (L1), learners already speak – or are learning – at least one other language. As a result, they already have an array of linguistic and cognitive skills that may prove very useful if they are adequately exploited during the language learning process. However, in contrast with the growing interest displayed by researchers in the processes involved in the acquisition of a third or subsequent language (e.g.