A Look at L1 Influences on L2 Literacy Skills

A Look at L1 Influences on L2 Literacy Skills

  This paper explored L1 influences on the acquisition of L2 literacy skills. It has been generally assumed that L1 literacy skills have, directly or indirectly, an impact on subsequent L2 literacies. Based on this assumption, contrastive rhetoric was examined in order to look at the relationship between language and culture. Particularly, a great deal of attention was given to show how ways of thinking in L1 affect linguistic choices in L2. The issue of language transfer was, then, discussed to see the influence of L1-based elements on comprehending and producing L2 text. Next, schema theory was addressed to examine how the differences between L1 and L2 reading bear on L2 reading. This study suggested that Korean EFL learners be able to raise the consciousness level about contrastive rhetoric by writing journals that focus on the differences in logic between Korean and English. It also indicated that L2 learners should be allowed to use their L1 knowledge as long as the L1 comes into play at least at the early stages of L2 learning.