Republic of the Philippines
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Education
GRADUATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
2nd Sem., SY 2023-20324
Reporter:
Course:
Topic:
Professor:
WAFA A. TANTUAS
PEM 308 (Seminar of Philosophy of Language)
John Schumann’s Acculturation Model
Prof. Medaylin B. Acraman, PhD
John Schumann’s Acculturation Model
John Schumann developed an acculturation model for second language acquisition. The model
proposes that second language learning is dependent on how well learners acculturate to the target
language culture. Schumann studied a man named Alberto who lived in Cambridge, England for six years
but did not improve his English because he primarily socialized with other people from his native Costa
Rica. Schumann argued that the degree of social and psychological distance between a learner and the
target language culture influences acculturation.
Acculturation is a cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or
borrowing traits from another culture. It is an exchange of cultural features when two or more different
cultures come in continuous contact. It is a sharing of the differences in cultures, this may alter or change
a culture but still remains distinct from each other (Schumann, 1987).
Theoretical Foundations of Schumann’s Acculturation Model
Second Language Learning is an aspect of acculturation and the degree to which second
language learners acculturate to the Target Language groups (i.e. assimilate to the target language
culture), governs and controls second language learning.
There two (2) types of acculturation
1. Learning are socially integrated with the target learning group and develop sufficient contacts with
target learning speaker to enable them to acquire the target language.
2. Learners consciously or unconsciously desire to adopt the life style and values of the target
learning group.
 Both type of acculturation are important to provoke acquisition of the target language.
 Social and psychological contact with the target language group is the essential element in
acculturation.
 adopting the values and life-style of the target language group is not necessary.
According to Schumann (1986) with regard to second language learner’s acculturation, there are
eight (8) social factors and four (4) psychological factors that determine this distance and impact second
language acquisition according to the model.
Acculturation Factors
Social Factors
(Social dominance, integration patterns,
enclosure, cohesiveness, size, cultural
congruence, attitude, intended length of
the residence of TL area)
Affective Factors
(Language shock, culture
motivation, ego-permeability)
shock,
8 Social Factors
1. Social dominance is simply defined as one culture is on a higher hierarchy. The much superior
hierarchy greatly influences the much inferior culture. e.g. Spain is more dominant than the
Philippines and China.
2. Integration patterns (Assimilation, Preservation, and Adaptation)
Assimilation. The culture gives up its own lifestyle to adapt to the culture (Language). It
maximizes the contact between the cultures and enhances the acquisition.
Preservation. This strategy maintains its own lifestyle and rejects the target group’s language
acquisition. It creates a rift between the two groups making the acquisition of the target groups.
Adaptation. This strategy adapts the target group’s lifestyle and language but also maintaining
its own lifestyle and values. This strategy yields varied degrees of language.
3. Enclosure is a degree of sharing cultural construction (school, church, clubs, facilities, trades,
profession, etc.)
4. Cohesiveness. If the second language learning group is firm or cohesive, the members tend to
separate itself to the target language group. This makes second language acquisition harder to
accomplish.
5. Size. A large population of the second language learning group, then it makes language
acquisition more difficult. Conflicts may emerge between them.
6. Cultural Congruence (Similarity between the two groups). If the two groups are similar then
second language acquisition is easier for the language learning group to grasp target language.
7. Attitude. If the target group and the language learning group have positive attitudes towards each
other, there would be less barriers between the two groups from learning the target language.
8. Intended Length of the Residence. If the second language learning group intends to stay in the
target language are for a longer time, it is likely for them to learn the language intensively. A
lengthy stay would promote Second Language Acquisition.
4 Affective/Psychological Factors
1. Language shock. Feeling silly about trying to learn the language equates to less likely
to learn.
2. Culture Shock. Being anxious or disoriented in the culture equates to less likely to learn.
3. Motivation. Level of motivation affects learn
4. Ego-permeability. The extent to which second language learners view their first
language as fixed and rigid will impact their learning of the second language.
Conclusion:
Acculturation model is a conceptual framework which permits the interpretation and
understanding of success or failure in SLA in various contact situation. This theory attempts to explain
the relationship between learners’ second language acquisition and their social and psychological factors
and it helps to prove the importance of social factors in second language acquisition.
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References:
Wid, Aprilianty (2019). Acculturation Model. A slideshare from Scribd company. www.slideshare.net/apriliantywid/acculturationmodel-130102848
Invisible_Vision (2023). John Schumann’s Acculturation Model. A slideshare from Scribd company.
www.slideshare.net/slideshow/sla-slides-3/236874882
Pinnegar, Stefinee E & Annela Teemant (2007). Understanding Language Acquisition Instructional Guide. Brigham Young
University-Public School Partnership.