Second language

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/second-language

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the linguistic framework?The foundational structure provided by a person's first language (L1)
2. What is the executive functions?Cognitive processes like attention, planning, and problem-solving enhanced by L2 learning
3. Why do people learn a second language?People learn a second language to talk with others, trade, travel, or because they live in a place where another language is spoken.
4. How does learning a second language help the brain?Learning a second language helps your brain stay sharp. It improves attention, problem‑solving, and can keep your mind healthy as you grow older.

Second Language (L2): A language acquired after an individual's native language (L1).
Dominant Language: The language a speaker uses most proficiently or comfortably, not necessarily their L1.
Language Attrition: The decline in proficiency of a language, often the L1, due to disuse or L2 dominance.