4。2 Vulnerable language skills 9

4。3 Major Difference 10

4。4 Gender Difference 10

Conclusion 12

Acknowledgements 13

References 14

Appendix I 15

1 Introduction

1。1 Research Background

The research of Language Attrition can be traced back to the Old Testament Exodus: Gods and Kings。 The protagonist Moses escaped to Midian and lived there for 40 years。 Because he had spoken language of Midian for quite long time, he was not accustomed to speaking his mother tongue when he returned to Egypt。 This phenomenon is regarded as the typical attrition of mother tongue in a foreign language environment。From+优|尔-论_文W网wWw.YouErw.com 加QQ752018.766

Language attrition was not served as a formal research subject for long time and it was just made a passing mention by scholars when they studied language acquisition。 Until the early 20th century, it was paid attention again by some foreign psychologists。 However, the earlier study of language attrition was very scattered and lack of integrated research systems and unanimous name and definition。

Nowadays, with more and more persified international communication, to advance with the times, nations, society and inpiduals, all give top priority to English learning。 However, although a lot of people have spent plenty of time, efforts and money on English study, the study effect is not satisfied。 That is to say, their investment and yield are not in direct proportion。

For non-English majors, they would enroll in systematic English courses during their first two years in college campus, which is compulsory。 After passing CET-6, for lack of examination pressure and the interest in learning English, some students may reduce their frequency of learning English or even stop learning it completely, which may gives rise to a disastrous decline of their English proficiency。 All their previous efforts to learn English are ruined。 For those students who give up English learning may be devoid of competitive advantage after graduation to some extent。 This phenomenon is considered as the typical attrition of second language attrition in a native language environment。论文网

So, English learners and educators are supposed to pay high attention to language attrition so as to have a deeper understanding of it and consolidate and improve English learning achievements。 

1。2 Significance of the Study

Hansen held the opinion that to have a comprehensive understanding of development process of language learning, we must study the frequency of language input, perceptual salience, and the feature of language attrition。 This paper endeavors to analyze the influential factors of language attrition and their interrelations with each other。 All English learners are eager to keep what they have learned in mind for a long time。 To reduce the degree of second language loss, we must figure out what leads to the deterioration of English learning。 For college students, they would accept basic English course in their first two years。 However, after they pass CET-6, many of them would think that they don’t need to learn English any more, so, their English learning process would be at a standstill。 Lack of continued practice, students’ foreign language ability would be lagged behind。 Based on this consideration, the study of language attrition is of great significance because it’s salutary to find effective ways to remain second language learning achievements as well as get rid of current unpleasant English learning situation。 At the same time, the thesis also aims to draw inspiration from empirical study and raise some practical suggestions to boost college English teaching reform in order to improve teaching and learning efficiency。