Native Polish-speaking Adolescent Immigrants' Exposure to and Use of English

Abstract

The age at which one begins learning a second language (L2) has been shown to influence the rate of acquisition and ultimate proficiency in various aspects of that language. Less is understood about L2 acquisition for adolescents, particularly immigrants, and ways in which age on arrival (AoA) influences the circumstances in which they learn their L2. This study explored language environments experienced by 59 native Polish-speaking adolescent immigrants who arrived in the USA between the ages of 11 and 19, and investigated the relationship between AoA and those environments. The adolescents used a mix of Polish and English, but predominantly used Polish across a variety of settings. They used the most English with their teachers and least with their parents. Students who immigrated at older ages were typically exposed to less English across various settings. Although AoA was a significant predictor of exposure to English, and therefore influenced the students' opportunities for encountering English, it did not seem to directly influence their use of English, which was predicted by exposure to English. The results suggest that providing opportunities for L2 exposure and use across various settings is essential in allowing these students to gain L2 skills and ultimately high L2 proficiency.

Keywords:

• adolescence
• bilingualism
• immigration
• Polish
• second language acquisition