The effects of environment on second language acquisition in state primary school children

Abstract

This comparative study looks for differences in the acquisition of English between rural and urban area children. It also seeks differences in the socio-cultural environment of the two groups and strives to reconcile these with perceived differences in English acquisition. In so doing, it also tries to discover whether such differences are strong enough as to be identified as generalized characteristics which concur with common perceptions of different language usage by 'town' and 'country' people in Malta. The study does not attempt to analyse the national situation but does try to outline a portrayal of 4 State primary classes -in each of the two areas in question.