Introduction

We are immersed in a world where learning a second language is essential to be part of a globalized world, where so-called universal languages ​​such as English, is essential to be able to relate in educational and work context.

Having the possibility to learn a second language allows us to be participants in this evolving world, also becoming a necessity in our various contexts like as work and education, where learning languages ​​such as English has become a requirement.

At the moment to  learning a second language, there are diferent essential characteristics to take into account to find a  successful process; On the one hand, it is important to be in direct contact with the language that we want to learn, on the other hand, it is essential to recognize the characteristics of the context, beyond its language, such as cultural aspects.

As individuals participating in this globalized world, these are aspects that we must take into account in order to learn one or more languages.

General Objective

To explain some socio-cultural aspects in L2 learning, such as bilingual and bicultural, through their meaning, differences between them and examples.

Bilingual

The continuous interaction with the foreign context it’s an important aspect for the bilingual, where through a dynamic processes in the course of the speakers life,  and also through immersion in these contexts, he manages to acquire the learning of a second language.

There are some risks that the bilingual speaker must face, as indicated by Grosjean, F. (2013), in Bilingualism: A short introduction, the bilingual manages to acquire the learning of a second language through a school or natural environment, despite this , this process can have ups and downs, due to situations such as the change of the context where the speaker is immersed. It is important  that the speaker has a constant interaction with the environment where he is immersed.

Bilingual Example

An individual has learned 2 or more languages ​​in the course of his life, due to the context in which he was immersed, or through learning in an educational context. Due to fortuitous situations, the individual must leave the context and move to another country, where a different language is spoken. Therefore, in the process of adapting to the new environment, he begins to learn the new language gradually.

Bicultural

Bicultural is more deeply rooted in the individual, where the culture of a context influences different areas of the speaker,  such as their behavior, and their values, among others.

Bicultural bilinguals manage to adapt these cultural characteristics in the contexts in which they are immersed, having the ability to adapt to any cultural environment, allowing them to learn the characteristics of new contexts, including the language.

As indicated by Grosjean, F. (2013), in Bilingualism: A short introduction, the bicultural aspects can change the different individual aspects, that are generated by the context; the language is one of these characteristics of culture.

Biculatural Example

The son of a Colombian mother and an English father has been immersed since his birth in a context where two different cultures have influenced him. Although this, individual lives in England, he has been influenced by his mother's culture, which has fostered in him some cultural characteristics of Colombia, including the Spanish language. Due to this, the son of this family recognizes both cultures, and the cultural characteristics of each one,  and has also managed to learn both languages,  English and Spanish.

 

Conclusions

-It is important to recognize all those factors that determine the bilingual and bicultural context.  It is possible that there may be confusion when referring to them.
-Thanks to this activity, I have been able to identify the bilingual and bicultural characteristics. The bilingual can achieves the learning of two or more languages ​​through immersion in a specific context, but in some cases this process  can be interrupted by the change of context.
 -On the other hand, there is the bicultural context, where deeper aspects of the speakers culture,  play a fundamental role in their interaction with the environment and also in their learning.

 

Recording Link

https://youtu.be/Un92JL2BcwQ

Author: Cristian Zamir Santofimio Hurtado