A Review for “Factors Affecting Second Language Learning”
 Written by Patsy M. Lightbown and Nina Spada


Second language learning research is a diverse and complex field concerning aspects of linguistics, biology, psychology, education and sociology. There are many factors affecting second language learning, such as learners’ intelligence, aptitude, personality, motivation and attitude, preferences, beliefs, age of acquisition, etc. A lot of research has been done on these factors related to second language learning since at least the Greeks. But the individual learner variables are complex and dependent on one another; the research results on the same factor are often incompatible. Thus it is still hard to make precise predictions about how a single factor affects an individual’s success in second language learning.

1.An Overview of the Factors Affecting Second Language Learning
Intelligence There are multiple types of intelligence including linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, etc. Many scholars have done a lot of research in the relation between intelligence and second language learning via different IQ tests. Some studies suggest that intelligence is more closely related to certain language abilities than others. Anyway, intelligence is complex and an individual has different kinds of strengths and talents. A person who is strong in academic performance doesn’t necessarily become a proficient second language learner. Many people who are weak in academic performance have achieved considerable success in second language learning. 
Aptitude Aptitude usually means the ability to learn a second language in an academic classroom and is composed of different types of abilities: the abilities to identify and memorize new sounds, words, to understand the function of words and figure out grammatical rules (Lightbown & Spada, 2000). Some people have more aptitude than others while they may not be strong in all of the components. An individual may be strong in grammatical rules but average in other components. This kind of aptitude profile will help teachers to designing program activities for different students in second learning classrooms.